Each year, Earth Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the natural world and the benefits it confers to humanity. Conservation and preservation typically dominate the conversation. Well-meaning, these can unwittingly create a narrative that we can only protect wild spaces by keeping humans out; and we wonder why this doesn’t inspire sufficient action to address our pressing environmental challenges.
On Thursday, April 22, the world will celebrate Earth Day, the largest non-religious holiday on the globe. This Earth Day falls at a critical turning point. It is the second Earth Day since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and follows a year of devastating climate disasters, such as the wildfires that scorched California and […]
By Courtney Lindwall Coined in the 1970s, the classic Earth Day mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” has encouraged consumers to take stock of the materials they buy, use, and often quickly pitch — all in the name of curbing pollution and saving the earth’s resources. Most of us listened, or lord knows we tried. We’ve carried […]
By Alexandria Villaseñor This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. My journey to becoming an activist began in late 2018. During a trip to California to visit family, the Camp Fire broke out. At the time, it was the most devastating and destructive wildfire […]
“We have sinned against the earth,” Pope Francis said in a forceful Earth Day message Wednesday that reinforced the religious leader’s commitment to environmental action. Francis delivered the remarks during his general audience, which he broadcast from his library because of lockdown measures put in place to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, as […]
In a special message for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world to respond to the immediate crisis caused by the new coronavirus in a way that also solves the climate crisis. Guterres first acknowledged the pandemic that has prompted Earth Day to go digital this year, […]
This year’s Earth Day celebration is quite different from Earth Days past as coronavirus social distancing measures make outdoor gatherings impossible. Luckily, several networks are premiering documentaries in the U.S. that you can watch from the safety of your couch. Here are three new films to watch on Earth Day’s 50th anniversary to keep yourself […]
The devastating reality of the coronavirus pandemic has increased people’s hunger for good news, as The New York Times reported April 14, leading to significant increases in Google searches and follower counts for good news accounts. Just in time, Covering Climate Now (CCNow) is here to meet that need with a week of coverage devoted […]
This April 22, Earth Day turns 50. The world’s largest secular holiday approaches its golden anniversary in the shadow of two global crises. This year’s day is dedicated to climate action, and the celebration has moved online in response to the coronavirus pandemic. But Earth Day has a history of uniting people around the world to solve the major problems facing our […]