Every April 22nd, we celebrate our earth and raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect the planet, but why do we just have one day where our society feels motivated enough to take action? Since the dawn of human civilization, our planet has been polluted. Smithsonian Magazine says “air pollution has been a problem since the ancient days of Rome” and the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration says “ocean pollution dates back to centuries.” Communities host clean up sessions, companies make green pledges, and social media fills with reminders to recycle, reduce, and reuse. But, despite advances in technology and greater access to information, we still struggle to live in harmony with the Earth.
One of the key challenges in the fight for environmental preservation is the gap between awareness and action. Earth day has successfully brought environmental concerns to the forefront, but the momentum often fades away as the calendar flips to the next day. From the plastics in our ocean to the depletion of natural resources, the threats are constant, and the actions needed to mitigate them must be persistent. Steven Hawking stated that “within the next few hundred years, humans will have to leave earth”. Why is this? Because of human induced problems. Yes, humans caused destruction to earth, but that also gives them ways to stop it. Too often, individuals feel disconnected from these problems, feeling as if their individual action’s won’t make a difference. This is where advocacy comes in handy, to build bridges between individual power and large scale solutions.
Right now, many of us are living in the “ignorance of bliss” but we can’t change what we don’t understand. This is why a call for action starts with changes in schools. School’s need to integrate sustainability into everything, because when we treat environmental issues as an ongoing conversation rather than a once a year topic, we can shift our attitudes towards long-term responsibility. For example, the Green School in Bali Indonesia. Not only do they make a difference in the environment by designing their buildings to natural ventilation and light without the need for artificial systems, they also incorporate our world’s issues into their education. Students learn through experiences such as working on sustainable projects and developing solutions for their community. Instead of relying on textbooks, students learn through direct engagement.
In privileged communities, these experiences should be more encouraged, especially since we have the resources to make immense change. 24/7 Wall St. says some of the most successful places in the world are “Russia, Saudi Arabia, the U.S, Canada and China”. Global Finance Magazine says “Egypt is not considered a rich country” but they still increase their green investments and projects, and they are expected to increase by 50% by 2030. This demonstrates that even nations with fewer resources can make sustainable progress when they commit to sustainability and prioritize long term environmental investments. The time is ripe for privileged communities to take bold, coordinated action in integrating sustainability into their economical, social, and educational frameworks.
One day isn’t enough to dedicate to our home, we live on it everyday and should treat it equally in favor of the way it provides for us. The planet doesn’t take a break from supporting us 364 days a year, so why should our advocacy take a backseat? From rethinking education to reimagining policy and reshaping personal habits, it’s clear that lasting change demands more than symbolic gestures. Earth day shouldn’t be the finish line of our efforts, it should be the starting point. If we are capable of harming the planet on a global scale, we are also capable of healing it. We can only accomplish this if we act like everyday is Earth Day, because for our Earth everything counts.
