Polski
As every year, April 22 marks World Earth Day, a reminder to protect the environment. This holiday mobilizes action on behalf of the Earth, and the occasion is marked by numerous events around the world, involving millions of people concerned about the future of our planet.
World Earth Day – history
The concept of the modern environmental movement, known as World Earth Day (Earth Day), was born in the United States in 1970. Its creation was a response to escalating pollution problems, such as numerous oil spills, the massive use of leaded fuel and the alarming rate of wildlife degradation. Earth Day has quickly become a platform to unite citizens with different political and social views, emphasizing the priority of protecting the future of our planet.
The event has gained international recognition and attracted the attention of leaders from around the world, leading to its annual celebration. In the first year after its inauguration, Earth Day helped establish the first environmental legislation in the United States, including laws on environmental education, air quality and workplace safety. It is now the largest environmental movement in the world, as evidenced by the continued growth of the number of individuals and organizations involved. According to the Earth Day website, the movement is already mobilizing one billion people and working with more than 75,000. partners to minimize the negative human impact on the environment. This year’s celebration is the 54th. The anniversary of this significant event.
Goals of World Earth Day
The organizers of World Earth Day focus not only on initiating concrete actions to improve the environment, but also on raising environmental awareness and shaping pro-environmental attitudes in society. The movement’s founders are also keen to systematically expand the definition of “environment” to include factors that directly affect our daily lives, such as the creation of social justice jobs, which is crucial in the context of the growing problem of global warming. In addition, World Earth Day prioritizes social equity in taking conservation action, as manifested through active collaboration with marginalized communities, who are often most affected by climate change.
Worldwide initiatives
The theme of this year’s World Earth Day is “Planet versus plastics.” Accordingly, the organizers are calling for a 60 percent reduction in the production of all plastics, with special emphasis on plastic. By 2040. As Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day, points out, the Planet vs. Plastics campaign is a call for mobilization and immediate action to end the scourge of plastics and protect the health of every living thing on our planet. As part of this campaign, the “Babies vs. Plastics” report was published to raise public awareness of the problem.
World Earth Day is an initiative that inspires many other activities. Here are some examples:
- The Canopy Project: a project working with partners around the world to reforest areas in urgent need of restoration. The venture focuses mainly on regions whose residents are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
- Fashion for the Earth: An initiative to promote sustainable fashion, i.e., eco-friendly clothing supplies. The organizers highlight the problems of today’s fashion industry, such as labor exploitation, exploitation of natural resources and the generation of huge amounts of waste, emphasizing the need for education and improvement in these areas.
- Great Global Cleanup: An activity that encourages local communities around the world to actively participate in cleaning up local areas. The organization’s official website features a constantly updated map with actions organized in different parts of the world in support of this goal.
World Earth Day in Poland
In Poland, as in other countries, the biggest ecological holiday is celebrated with great vigor. It involves not only government bodies, but also local authorities and numerous citizens. Various initiatives are being organized in major cities across the country, including educational fairs, joint garbage collection events and cultural events. In Katowice, for example, the Katowice Waterworks is actively involved, promoting pro-environmental behavior among residents. One of the company’s flagship projects is #KranówkaKatowicka, aimed at promoting drinking tap water. On the other hand, additional stops of the Problem Waste Collection Vehicles have been planned for World Earth Day in Wroclaw.
