Earth Day (22 April)

                                  EARTH DAY

22 April is Earth Day. While the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been spreading around the world and dominating news headlines, thoughts and attention, the need to take climate action has remained as urgent as ever.




By the end of 2020, global CO2 emissions need to have dropped by 7.6 per cent and continue to fall by 7.6 per cent each year for us to have kept global heating under 1.5 degree, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2019.

Earth day 2020 is not just the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, but also the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement to take climate action.

Background on Earth Day
The first Earth Day took place in 1970. Outraged by oil spills, smog and polluted rivers, 20 million people took to the streets, protesting what they recognised as an environmental crisis. It was the planet’s largest civic event at the time and compelled governments to take concrete actions, including passing environmental laws and establishing environmental agencies. In addition to these practical outcomes, the event demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people come together and demand action.

Earth Day in 2020
Marking its half-century anniversary, and selecting climate action as its theme, Earth Day 2020 was already poised to be a historic event. An occasion planned to bring people physically together across a series of events, COVID-19 has now prompted a dramatic shift to completely digital and virtual platforms. Earth Day 2020 calls for 24 hours of actions, big and small, for people and the planet. On
this 50th anniversary, civil society organizers hope to fill the world’s digital landscape with global conversations, positive acts, performances, webinars and events supporting urgent action on climate
change.

Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at School

Earth Day has made positive impacts on the environment globally, but it can also play a significant role on local levels as well. Young children, in particular, may not realize that there are many ways they can participate in protecting the Earth and make it a safer place.

For example, water conservation, recycling and saving energy are all important parts of protecting the environment your kids or kids in your classroom could contribute to. From brushing your teeth with the water off to remembering to turn the lights off when not in the room, these small steps can make big impacts on the planet.

• Bulletin Boards: Teachers can build momentum for Earth Day by creating interactive 'No Waste' bulletin boards in the classroom. The idea is to create the bulletin board with recycled items and then encourage students to find ways to recycle at home and school. 

• Poster Projects: Students can also help encourage other students to recycle and be aware of ways to conserve and produce less waste by creating reminder posters and placing them in the classroom and school. 

Ways to Celebrate Earth Day at Home

Earth Day is something the entire family can celebrate together in a variety of ways at home and in the community.

Plant a tree:   This is a great way to teach your children about the importance of trees. For example, trees produce oxygen and that's something both humans and wildlife need to survive. Planting a tree together can help restore the balance of the ecosystem and create a lasting memory for you and your family.

Pick up trash: Take a trip to your local park and teach your children how to pick up trash. Keeping the park clean is great for the environment and it makes the park more enjoyable for kids to play in.

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Develop an environment where the diversity and uniqueness of all learners are accepted and valued."