Earth Day

Earth Day History

Earth Day highlights the importance of preserving and enhancing the earth's environment. It aims to raise awareness about various environmental concerns, such as deforestation, climate change, pollution, and overconsumption of natural resources. These issues have extensive implications, affecting everything from the health of the planet's ecosystems to sustainability. It compels individuals, communities, and governments to understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of all life on our planet and to act responsibly towards our environment.

Earth Day is historical in its origin, emerging in the 1970s in the United States as a response to increasing environmental degradation. In South Africa, Earth Day holds significant relevance due to the nation's unique biodiversity and environmental challenges. South Africa hosts 10% of the world's plant species and is home to the unique Fynbos biome. However, this rich biodiversity faces threats from habitat loss, climate change, and poaching. Earth Day, then, serves as a timely reminder for South Africans to prioritize and uphold environmental conservation efforts and to strive towards sustainable utilization of natural resources.

In South Africa, Earth Day is marked by various activities and initiatives intended to inspire consciousness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. These range from educational workshops and seminars, tree-planting initiatives, beach clean-ups to community-driven recycling projects. Schools and local municipalities often host environmental outings, encouraging a hands-on approach to understanding local ecology. Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd, encouraging individual and collective actions towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Facts about Earth Day

• The theme for Earth Day in 2024 was Planet vs. Plastics. The theme in 2023 was Invest in Our Planet.
  
• During the 2015 UN Conference in Paris, France, participating nations concurred on the need for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The countries cooperatively pledged to keep global temperature rise below 2C (3.6F). In celebration of Earth Day 2016 on April 22nd, the landmark agreement that testifies to this global commitment was signed at the UN Headquarters in New York by 175 participating nations. The history of Earth Day 2017 dates back to 1970 when it was first celebrated in 1970. It was founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson to promote ecology and the respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water, and soil pollution.
• South Africa contributed significantly to the global Trees for Earth campaign for the Earth Day's 50th anniversary in 2016, where the goal was to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide, one for every person on the planet.
• Earth Day was first celebrated in South Africa in 1990, twenty years after it was officially recognized internationally.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for Earth Day

Top things to do in South Africa for Earth Day

• Try not to use your car for the entire day. Instead, use public transit, walk, or ride your bicycle.
• Change your traditional incandescent light bulbs to energy saving LED or CFL light bulbs.
• Visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden: Spend Earth Day surrounded by the stunning flora of South Africa. Located in Cape Town, the garden is home to thousands of indigenous plant species.
• Attend Earth Expo: This is a large scale festival where organizations, businesses, and individuals come together to showcase and discuss sustainable living and environmental conservation.