How is this day celebrated at the UN?
The President of the 63rd session of the General Assembly, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, said that the proclamation of this International Day in the resolution promotes the idea of the Earth as an entity that supports all living beings found in nature, and also contributes to the promotion of the general responsibility to restore troubled relations with nature, bringing people all over the world together. This resolution also reaffirms the collective responsibility commitments made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which state that in order to strike a balance between the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, humanity must strive for harmony with nature and planet Earth.
During the celebration of the 10th anniversary of International Mother Earth Day on April 22, 2019, the ninth interactive dialogue of the General Assembly on harmony with nature will take place. Participants will discuss the issues of providing inclusive, equitable and high-quality education regarding the adoption of urgent measures to combat climate change and its consequences, as well as stimulating citizens and society to interact with the natural world in the context of sustainable development, eradicating poverty and ensuring life in harmony with nature. . The UN website also states that, expressing support for the most ambitious initiatives, and emphasizing the need to accelerate action aimed at implementing the Paris Agreement, on September 23, 2019, the Secretary General will hold a Climate Action Summit, which is supposed to take on the “climate challenge”.
What we can do
This day is also celebrated today by all UN member states, international and non-governmental organizations, drawing public attention to the problems related to the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports. One of the most active participants of this day was the organization “Earth Day”, which from year to year devotes its events and actions to various problems of the planet. This year their events are dedicated to the theme of extinction.
“The gifts of the planet are the millions of species we know and love, and many more yet to be discovered. Unfortunately, humans have irrevocably upset the balance of nature, and as a result, the world is facing the highest rate of extinction ever. We lost dinosaurs over 60 million years ago. But unlike the fate of dinosaurs, the rapid extinction of species in our modern world is the result of human activity. Unprecedented global destruction and rapid decline in plant and wildlife populations are directly linked to human-caused causes: climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, human trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution, pesticides, etc.” , according to the organization’s website.
The good news is that the rate of extinction can still be slowed and many of the endangered, endangered species could still recover if people work together to create a unified global movement of consumers, voters, educators, religious leaders and scientists and will demand immediate action from others.
“If we don’t act now, extinction could be the most enduring legacy of humanity. We must work together to protect endangered species: bees, coral reefs, elephants, giraffes, insects, whales and more,” the organizers urge.
The Earth Day organization has already held 2 green shares, and by the organization’s 688th anniversary in 209, they hope to reach 868 billion. Today, Earth Day is asking people to join the Protect Our Species campaign by supporting their goals: to educate and raise awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species, as well as the causes and consequences of this phenomenon; achieve major political victories that protect broad groups of species, as well as individual species and their habitats; create and activate a global movement that protects nature and its values; encourage individual action, such as adopting a plant-based diet and stopping the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Earth Day reminds us that when we come together, the impact can be monumental. In order to influence the situation, participate in green actions, making small changes that will lead to big changes in general. Take action to protect the environment, make more sustainable choices, reduce your carbon footprint, save energy and resources, participate in environmental projects, vote for environmentally committed leaders, and share your environmental actions to inform and inspire others to join to the green movement! Start protecting the environment today and build a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.