Let us face it: since Earth Day’s 50th anniversary in 2020, it has been a long and difficult year for the inhabitants of our world. However, things are likely starting to turn around. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging in many parts of the world, we now have vaccinations that may help us overcome it. Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, the Biden administration is putting in motion conservation policies that might help the US get back on track. So maybe it’s worth doing a little partying (and educating) on behalf of this year’s annual celebration of the environmental movement, which is scheduled for April 22nd.
The majority of Earth Day celebrations will be virtual once again. The below is a list of some of the events that you should attend. You can use Earthday.org’s online tool for online and on-site events to get a more detailed list or find Earth Day celebrations in your area.
RESTORE OUR EARTH: EARTH DAY LIVE
The second annual “Earth Day Live: Restore Our Earth” online live stream event, hosted by Earthday.org, will begin at noon on April 22nd, running parallel with the Biden administration’s global climate summit (see below). The event will feature a wide variety of artists, politicians, and activists from various fields. It will be followed by two events: a global youth summit on April 20th and a global education summit on April 21st. On the day of the event, go to Earthday.org to participate.
Climate Leaders Summit
President Biden has invited 40 world leaders to a Climate Leaders Summit on April 22nd and 23rd in Washington, D.C. Questions such as how to minimize pollution, reach net-zero (offsetting or reducing carbon dioxide emissions), and protect people from climate change are also on the agenda. You will view the event live through a live stream link that will be available closer to the event date.
AMERICAN CLIMATE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT (ACLS 2021)
The American Climate Leadership Summit, an online gathering of environmental activists taking place April 27th – 29th, is another response to the Leaders Summit on Climate. Sessions will cover subjects such as the global state of climate change, activism strategies, and other issues. Attending a single forum costs $25, the main session and a single forum costs $50, and the whole program costs $75.
JOIN A VIRTUAL MARCH+RALLY
Earth Day Initiative (EDI) and March for Science NYC have teamed up to deliver a series of online activities that will culminate in a virtual march and rally on an online gaming platform. On Sunday, April 18th, from noon to 8 p.m. ET, an online event featuring politicians, artists, and environmentalists, including Elizabeth Warren, Kyra Sedgwick, Rosdely Ciprian, and Marc Yaggi, will explore a variety of environmental issues.
The virtual march and rally, called “SC1.5NCE NOT SILENCE,” will occur on Monday, April 19th, in a 1990s-themed virtual reality space created by Future Meets Present and Gather. You will be able to visit exhibits, talk with exhibitors and other participants via an avatar, and participate in a march and rally organized by March for Science NYC and Fridays for Future at 3 p.m. ET (the movement co-founded by Greta Thunberg).
VIRTUAL 5K RACE
If you are a runner or walker, WE ACT for Environmental Justice is hosting a virtual 5K race during the week of Earth Day, April 17th through April 25th, where participants will be encouraged to walk or run 5K. You should participate even if your regular means of exercise is a half-mile walk. You may use the race to raise funds for WE ACT or not, so all eligible participants must contribute either a fixed sum or an amount of their choice.
ARTIVISM FOR EARTH
On April 22nd, the University of Utah will host a series of online performance events, most of which will take place at the campus’ Natural History Museum of Utah. The event will include a video mosaic, “four immersive performances, arranged under the classical elements: earth, air, water, and fire,” a feature-length film exploring nature and humanity, a panel discussion, and a final program of several different multimedia presentations in the schedule.
