Written by Safira Tafani Cholisi, Content Writer Intern Project Child Indonesia
It is widely known that climate change has been one of the most pressing issues of our world. Environmental degradation poses a threat to the balance of the global ecosystem that involves all kinds of living beings, whether it be plants, animals, and human beings. The deterioration of the environment also threatens the livelihoods of many, particularly those most socioeconomically marginalized and vulnerable. To address this problem, various actors across sectors have taken action and collaborated to collectively build a comprehensive response that can counter the effects brought about by climate change. Among these actors, private individuals and non-governmental organizations are some who have contributed to the mainstreaming of climate change discourse.
World Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, to bring awareness to the precarious state the Earth was in. It aims to gather people across the world to unite in acknowledging the importance of preserving the Earth and tackling the problems leading to environmental degradation and climate change. Ever since the day has been celebrated every year with various actions and movements to protect the Earth.
The 2021 theme for World Earth Day is “Restore Our Earth”. It signifies the collective belongingness we have with one another and the Earth as well as our responsibilities to restore the balance in our environment.
A few ways which you can do to participate in this year’s World Earth Day are:
- Educating one’s self on environmental issues
There are different environmental issues based on various factors and concepts, and sometimes it is difficult to be informed of everything at the same time. During this year’s World Earth Day, you can join online discussions and webinars which aim to discuss various perspectives and ways in which environmental degradation and climate change threaten our Earth. For instance, the World Earth Day organizers will be holding a virtual youth summit and inviting various youth climate activists.
- Rearranging room or house and identifying pattern of consumption
World Earth Day is also the perfect time for you to identify your own daily consumption pattern. You can rearrange your house and room and observe whether you have been using any items with unsustainable materials or those that take up a lot of energy. This is also a chance for you to see if you have been overconsuming by buying or hoarding items that end up being unused and left collecting dust in the corner of your room. Cleaning up your own space can also mean taking out the trashes and recycling those based on the suggested sustainable guidelines.
- Connecting with nearby communities
No movement will ever progress forward without the help and collaboration of a tight-knit community. World Earth Day can be a time for you to connect with nearby environmental organizations or events that aim to combat the effects of climate change. Some of the events that usually take place during World Earth Day are tree planting, community clean-up, sustainability workshops, and other hands-on activities as a first-hand method to protect the environment. Joining one of these wouldn’t only give you a new network of people who care about the same issue as you do, but also space for you to contribute to preserving the Earth.
There are still many other ways for you to take action during World Earth Day, but remember the most important thing: everyone can do good, and protecting our Earth is also one way to realize it!
References
EARTHDAY.ORG. 2021. Earth Day 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2021/> [Accessed 19 April 2021].
