World Earth Day

Earth Day has come a long way since it was first marked in 1970, and is now embraced by more than 190 COUNTRIES.

Each year, some 1 billion people take part in Earth Day events such as clean-up drives, tree-planting campaigns, and education initiatives, making it one of the biggest citizen-led programs in the world.

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges our planet currently faces. At present, it is estimated that there is anywhere between 75 and 199 million tonnes of plastic in our oceans.

Plastic usage is huge, with one million plastic bottles being bought around the world every minute.

Scientific studies indicate that, compared to pre-industrial times, the average temperature across the globe has risen by approximately 1.2°C, mainly because of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.

Since the 1950s, when the manufacture of plastics began, OVER 9.2 BILLION TONNES of plastics have been produced worldwide. A large part of this has still not been disposed of.

Deforestation remains a serious issue for biodiversity and climate security. Worldwide, about 4.7 million hectares of forest cover are lost each year, mostly because of agricultural activities, infrastructure development and logging.

World Earth Day reminds us of the fact that environmental issues are global problems that need to be tackled right away—and together. The statistics above clearly indicate the urgency required to fight climate change and pollution, and to protect the environment. And Earth Day has been reminding people and organisations around the world of the need to do their part to ensure a healthy planet for all

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