Thursday 22nd April is Earth Day and is a timely reminder that our world is precious.

Over the last year the world has been fighting a deadly pandemic. It is as if the world has been in hibernation, with the population shielding, traffic movements have been drastically cut and it is noticeable that the dangerous emissions from vehicles and aeroplanes have been dramatically cut giving our planet a chance to breath. With vaccinations starting to have an impact on the virus, the world is gradually re-awakening and Earth Day is a timely reminder that our world is fragile and if we don’t look after it Mother Nature will find other ways to wreak havoc.

This year, as well as seeing how a chain of events can cause worldwide disorder, a similar scenario has been happening across the world from wildfires in Australia, flooding in Bangladesh and ferocious hurricanes in the Caribbean so the theme of Earth Day 2021 of ‘Restore our Earth’ could not be more timely.

Kathleen Rogers, President of EarthDay.org says “this theme is one of optimism and a critically needed sentiment in a world ravaged both by climate change and the pandemic.
The theme focuses on restoring the world’s ecosystems through natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking”

Earth Day also supports local communities and areas that are disproportionately affected by environmental issues through a programme of on-line events. This gives a chance for your school to get involved and it is estimated that over 1 billion people in 192 countries will be taking part.  John Oppermann, Executive Director of the Earth Day Initiative. Said “with each passing day, the urgency for climate action grows, and we are running out of time. This is a pivotal year for our global community to acknowledge and respect the science of climate and COVID.”

The BBC Website have some fantastic videos and facts about the environmental challenges facing our planet as we approach Earth Day.

The global Earth Day Live show begins at noon ET on Thursday and will be an action-packed 4 hour event with panels, workshops, films and performances including world climate leaders, activists, educators, musicians and influencers.  Significantly, the event will run parallel to the Biden Administration’s Global Climate Summit that is being streamed live.