Earth Day 2021 is dedicated to youth, education, cleanup actions

This year’s Earth Day is about youth, environmental education and group efforts. Over two hundred tech companies committed to climate action and Elon Musk’s fund is about to publish the terms for the USD 100 million competition in carbon capture and storage.

The Earth Day network said the global event would be stretched this year, starting two days in advance of April 22, but that saving the planet actually takes year-round awareness and the adaptation of habits.

“Climate change and other environmental degradations have broken our natural systems, leading to new and fatal diseases as well as a breakdown of the global economy… We must restore our Earth not just because we care about the natural world, but because we live on it,” the organizers stressed.

Just like in the rest of the world, universities and schools and environmental organizations in Southeastern Europe scheduled presentations and workshops on topics such as recycling and bioplastics. However, most events in the region will be cleanup actions.

Teach for the planet

Earth Day 2021 is an opportunity for environmental education and group efforts, with participation by climate leaders, grassroots activists, nonprofit innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, artists, musicians and influencers.

A global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising will be held tomorrow with messages from activists including Greta Thunberg, followed by the We Shall Breathe virtual summit. On April 21, Education International will lead the Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit in several languages and across time zones.

Earthday.org will have its second annual live digital event on April 22, the 52nd Earth Day. The network revealed the event would be dedicated to climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies and reforestation and other topics.

Every single person has a role to play in protecting the environment, regardless of their profession, Sub-Saharan Africa regional coordinator for the Earth Day Network Ghaamid Abdulbasat said. “Becoming environmentally conscious means changing our daily behaviors at every level – individual, family, community, and decision-making,” he stressed and called on everyone to make their habits more sustainable.

Tech giants in climate action

Furthermore, over 200 technology companies launched a joint campaign: Time for Climate Action. The aim is to reach out to more than 50 million people and trigger 1 million meaningful and measurable actions for the planet. The tech giants said they are taking climate action themselves and encouraging customers to follow their lead.

The campaign was set up by nonprofit organization Leaders of Climate Action. Spotify, BlaBlaCar, eBay Kleinanzeigen, Universal Music, and Delivery Hero are among the signatories. Participating companies promised to disclose their carbon footprint and implement carbon reduction measures.

Time for Climate Action recommends, for instance, to change the household power supply to renewable energy, take climate action in the workplace and demand change from politicians.

Elon Musk’s carbon removal contest to be launched on Earth Day

Entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers have been preparing since January for the start of the XPRIZE Carbon Removal. The competition will be sponsored by Chief Executive Officer of Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and Boring Co. Elon Musk and his foundation.

XPRIZE said the details would be revealed on Earth Day. The winning team will be selected exactly four years later. The team that presents the best carbon capture and storage technology will get half of the USD 100 million fund.