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Earth Day Week: 50 Years of Earth Day

By Sofia Vedechkina

· Advocacy Stories

This Wednesday, April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

At The Climate Reality Project Canada, we’re extremely inspired when we think of the successes the world has had thanks to fifty years of climate action–we have achieved a lot in the last half-century by bringing environmental concerns to the political table and defending values that are dear to us, such as conservation, diversity, and equity.

Our Founder and Chairman, Al Gore, once said: “[When] any great cause becomes resolved into a binary choice between what’s right and what’s wrong, the outcome becomes inevitable.”* We know what the outcome of this struggle we’re all in will be: for us to move forward and in order to create a liveable world for generations to come, we need to transition toward a just, resilient, and carbon-neutral society.

Individuals from around the world have continuously exhibited dedication and perseverance in championing a planet that is healthy for all. We have proven what we are capable of when we work together toward a shared vision of what we hope our collective future to be. So what better way to usher in this new, fruitful decade of climate action than with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day?

Of course, we cannot forget about the current crisis we are all facing, and want to extend our solidarity to everyone in this difficult time. As we all know, many lives have been upended by this global situation, and countless events postponed or cancelled. We similarly want to extend our gratitude to all the essential workers without whom we wouldn’t be able to get our basic needs met as the majority of us self-isolate.

In the midst of all this turmoil, however, we remain incredibly grateful that we live in a time where we can stay virtually connected. Indeed, we hope that you are all still keeping in touch and checking in with friends and family. On our end, we’re overjoyed that the 50th anniversary of Earth Day can still take place digitally.

Luckily, countless Earth Day events around the globe scheduled to take place physically can still happen over the internet. At Climate Reality Canada, we are proud to have partnered up with We Don’t Have Time, Earth Day Network, and Exponential Roadmap to take part in an exciting Earth Day Week collaboration.

From 9 to 12 PM (EDT) every day this week (April 20th to April 25th), Earth Day Week will host one of the largest online climate conferences ever organized; over 100 business leaders, experts, and engaged leaders will join in from around the world to discuss climate change and to inspire climate action.

Every day, a different theme will be discussed by a variety of climate actors, from finance to urban transportation. You can find the full day-by-day program with all speakers and presentations outlined here.

On April 24th at 9 AM (EDT), our National Campaign Manager, Matthew Chapman, will be giving an introductory keynote presentation on local governance. He will be joined by Yanna Badet, a Climate Reality Leader from the European branch (Climate Reality Europe).

We are incredibly proud to be able to shed light on the vital importance of urban climate governance. Thanks in large part to the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5° C, we better understand the importance of raising our climate ambition worldwide. In order for us attain carbon neutrality globally by 2050 so that we can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we need engagement and commitment at the local level. Cities need to be at the forefront of this transition, setting an example of what true leadership looks like.

We hope that this Earth Day, you will join us and many others for a week of inspiring climate action that will not only celebrate 50 years of Earth Day but also help us remember that We Don’t Have Time to wait for things to change: the time to change them is now.