Earth Day 2024

22 Apr 2024 Earth Day 2024

THIS ARTICLE COVERS ‘DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS’ AND THE TOPIC DETAILS OF ”Earth Day 2024”. THIS TOPIC IS RELEVANT IN THE “Environment” SECTION OF THE UPSC CSE EXAM. 

Why in the news?  

Earth Day 2024 is celebrated worldwide on April 22 to support environmental conservation efforts and remind people of their responsibility to care for our planet. World Earth Day, also known as International Mother Earth Day, is a globally recognised event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the sustainability of our planet.

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has grown into a global movement, inspiring millions to advocate for environmental conservation and sustainability. Since then, it’s grown into a massive movement, with billions of people participating in events and activities worldwide.

Key highlights of Earth Day 2024: 

• • This year, Earth Day tackles a pressing environmental issue: plastic pollution.
  • The theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics,” highlighting the dangers plastic poses to our planet and health.
  • Millions of plastic waste are in landfills and oceans every year. This plastic pollutes our environment, harms wildlife, and even enters the food chain.
  • Investing in innovative technologies and materials to build a plastic-free world.
  • It committed to ending plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.

Global plastic recycling rates, particularly in developing countries, are usually poor—as low as 15%. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India generates 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily. Most of this is not recycled. Plastic remains a soil pollutant for generations if not recycled and phased out efficiently.

According to World Wildlife Fund research, global plastic trash production exceeds 380 million tonnes annually, with a substantial amount of it entering landfills, oceans, and waterways.

Importance of Earth Day: 

Earth Day reminds us of our collective responsibility to safeguard the Earth for future generations. It calls for individuals, communities, governments, and businesses to adopt sustainable practices and work towards a more environmentally friendly future. From planting trees and cleaning up litter to advocating for renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, Earth Day inspires a wide range of activities to promote environmental stewardship and create positive change. Here are a few reasons why it’s important:

• Environmental Awareness: Earth Day raises awareness about environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and species extinction. It prompts individuals, communities, and governments to take action to address these challenges.  
• Global Collaboration: Earth Day is a platform for people worldwide to come together and advocate for environmental protection. It encourages collaboration between governments, organizations, businesses, and individuals to solve pressing environmental problems.
• Education and Outreach: It provides opportunities for education and outreach about environmental issues. It promotes ecological literacy and empowers people with knowledge and resources to make informed decisions and take meaningful action. 
• Policy Change: It also sparks discussions and initiatives that lead to local, national, and international policy changes. It influences legislation and policies related to environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.
• Engaging Youth: Earth Day is a great opportunity to involve young people in caring for the environment. It inspires them to take action and learn more about how they can make a difference in the future. 
• Building a Movement: It brings together people who care about the environment worldwide. They work together, share ideas, and help each other out. People organize things like cleaning trash, planting trees, and teaching others about nature.

CONCLUSION: 

World Earth Day is more significant than ever in an era of growing concerns about the environment, depleting natural resources, and severe climate change. In addition to highlighting the growing problems, it provides a crucial forum for raising public awareness of these issues and encouraging and inspiring individuals globally to take action. It serves as a reminder that everyone has a shared responsibility for the planet’s health and that corporations, governments, communities, and individuals must work together to achieve this goal.

Earth Day serves as a yearly reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the collective effort needed to safeguard the health and well-being of our planet for current and future generations.

Download Yojna daily current affairs eng med 22nd April 2024

Mains Practice Question: 

Q. How does plastic pollution impact marine life and ecosystems, and who is responsible for addressing and mitigating its impact?

Amit Pradhan

I have the experience to guide and write the content for the  UPSC, and PCS Aspirants in preparing for the Civil Service Exam.  Currently Working as a content developer in Yojna IAS.