Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to denote support for environmental protection. It was first held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG which include 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics." 2025 will be the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. The theme for Earthday.org 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics and to mark that Earthday.org has called for a 60% global reduction in plastic production by 2040

The annual celebration of World Earth Day, also referred to as International Mother Earth Day, takes place on April 22nd. We dedicate the day to promoting awareness and bringing global environmental sustainability of the planet Earth. The primary goal of the Earth Day is to focus on the need to preserve and protect our planet, which is the home to all living beings. It also encourages the role of renewable practices and renewable sources of energy. It is high time we take urgent action to inscribe the climate crisis and protect our planet. Raising awareness about carbon emissions can help achieve this. We should encourage more and more people to invest in renewable energy sources. It is important to provide farmers with education on sustainable agriculture and livestock production. Earth Day is celebrated around the world in different ways. Some of the World Earth Day activities may include events, workshops, and online campaigns to promote environmental awareness and educate people about protecting Mother Earth. Even gardening and plantation are shown on YouTube to spread awareness and significance of the environment. Instead of plastic pot, nowadays fibre bags are used to grow plants which are very useful and durable as well. These bags consume only the quantity of water required by the roots. So that the plants grow on such bags gracefully. It is available in Bombay Green.

This year, we celebrate World Earth Day on Monday, 22 April 2024. The theme of Earth Day 2024 is 'Planet vs Plastics'. For Earth Day 2024 on 22 April, there is an unwavering commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040, says earthday.org.

History and Significance of World Earth Day

Gaylord Nelson planted the seeds that grew into the first Earth Day. Being always protective about the environment and had been looking after the environment for a long time. He tried to find ways to highlight the importance of the environment and make it a political issue. The idea for Earth Day grew when in the 1962 ‘Silent Spring' book by Rachel Carson and the famous 1968 Earthrise NASA photograph of the Earth from the Moon, the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, and the Cuyahoga River catching fire. All these led Nelson to think the time was ripe for an environmental initiative and the need for action to protect it. Nelson was worried about the deteriorating environment in the United States and wanted to conserve it. To find a way, he united students to take action to protect nature. He therefore engage Denis Hayes - a young activist to run the campus teach-ins and to grow the idea of environmental conservation and to make it known to more people. He chose 22nd April as an environment protection day, as it is a weekday and falls between spring break and final exams wherein the students will actively take part. So it was a conscious decision. Earth Day’s success was obvious when 20 million people across the United States came out to take part. Earth Day became distended internationally and crossed national boundaries by 1990. The day is important because it inspires us to devise our thoughts and realise that we are an inseparable part of nature rather than existing apart from it. It encourages people to adopt to simple lifestyle adjust to support environmental causes, and build a more sustainable future.

Importance of Earth Day -The reason for celebrating Earth Day motivates people to participate in activities that can help in solving issues responsible for climate change and environmental crises. One of the best ways to put an end to climate change is by actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is one of the fundamental key to reduce the worst effects of climate change, and will come into force with cooperation. To reduce carbon footprints on Earth, it is crucial to implement drastic measures. Some of these include the following:

• Using renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
• Driving less with an aim to conserve energy and recycling.
• Investing in sustainable agriculture and forestry practices.

Starting governments and other authorities to adopt policies that are compatible with climate change goals. This includes legislation that targets carbon emissions, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Supporting policies that promote energy efficiency and conservation. Investment in green technology can reduce global warming and sustainable agriculture and climate change. A good way for businesses to take action is to adopt a no deforestation, no peat, and no exploitation (NDPE) policy. This policy commits the company to not using deforestation, peat, or exploitation in their supply chain. Educating people about global climate change on World Earth Day may encourage customers and suppliers to adopt policies that are against climate change. On this Earth Day, you can take action by sharing your environmental-related concerns on social media. The adverse effects of climate change may lead to many economic crises. India is an agricultural country. Most part of India depend on agriculture. The shortage of food and poverty will hammer the economic development of the country. It should make awareness of advanced technology in agriculture available. Even radios and other broadcast should be used widely in the remote areas. 

The people in rural and village areas are still unaware of the latest technology in agriculture. Though the facilities are available, the people are unaware of it. So it is the need of the hour to make Earth Day a widely known celebration all over the world. This can help to raise awareness about climate change issues and increase support for climate action. By taking these small steps, we can help and make a difference in the fight to save the planet from climate change and its adverse effects on living beings.

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