Earth Day 2025

Today is Tuesday, April 22: Earth Day! Here's a special YNH Exclusive on the history of this holiday, some environmental wins that humanity has made this year, and how you can help our world.

After protests during the 1960s, US Senator Gaylord Nelson came up with the idea of staging a nationwide demonstration to promote environmental awareness and fight back against issues like deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. In 1970, the first Earth Day took place, with over 20 million people taking part in rallies, teach-ins, and other events occurring all over the country. That same year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed, helping to provide government funding to environmental protection projects. Today, over 190 countries celebrate Earth Day, and it takes place every year on April 22.

Now, let's dive into some wins that we have made for the environment since last Earth Day!

At COP29 in November, a new climate deal was agreed on.

The deal confirmed that wealthy countries would pledge at least $300 billion per year by 2035 to developing countries. This money would assist in recovery from major climate events like hurricanes, droughts, and storms, as well as move them towards a more sustainable future with cleaner energy. While economists predicted that the number needed to be much higher, it was a major step forward from the previous pledge of $100 billion per year made at COP15 in 2009.

Additionally, countries finally approved the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement unlocks financial aid for developing countries in their fight against climate change, and it also allows countries to cooperate and combat climate change by trading carbon credits. One carbon credit is equal to the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Countries can then sell these credits to other countries, benefitting both sides-- the country selling the credit makes money while helping the environment, and the country buying the credit can use it to meet their own climate goals. This motivates the sustainable country to keep up their climate work, as they are making money, while the country buying the credits is sending their money to a cause that will eventually lead to another reduction in carbon emissions. The execution of this new carbon crediting system is expected to be able to reduce the cost of implementing countries' nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by over $250 billion per year.

Also, the Loss and Damage Fund was fully operationalized.

The Loss and Damage Fund was established at COP27 in 2022, and it provides financial assistance to smaller countries that are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, the fund was launched, but full operationalization was not achieved until some final terms were agreed upon at the latest COP29 in Baku. As of right now, countries have pledged over $730 million for the fund. According to the official COP29 website, the Loss and Damage Fund should be able to begin financing projects by 2025.

The International Maritime Organization officially agreed on a new deal that will force shipping companies to pay fees for the amount of carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere.

Also, deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest hit a nine-year low, helping to preserve one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

However, our environment is still in grave danger. Global warming, sea level rise, and climate change pose major threats to everyone and everything on Earth, and they are getting worse by the second. So how can you help? The environment needs all the help it can get, and there are countless small things you can do to help-- not just today, but every day!

• First of all, you can donate to a good cause this Earth Day! There are countless organizations that can take a small donation a long way. Not looking to donate? Try buying a product that you know will benefit the environment-- for example, all proceeds from Patagonia products go towards the environment.

• Recycle as much as you can! Remember what is recyclable and what is not-- plastics with the numbers 1, 2, and 5 are widely recycled, while numbers 3, 4, 6, and 7 are usually not. However, check with your local recycling facility to see if they recycle other things like glass, and materials like paper and cardboard are almost always recyclable!

• Avoid single-use plastics. Single-use plastics are extremely harmful to the environment and also require petroleum to be manufactured. If you do end up using single-use plastics, make sure they end up in the trash bin and not as litter!

• Eat healthy, natural food. Many products are made from genetically modified plants, and others come from sources that can harm the environment. For example, fish caught in certain areas can be caught using unsustainable fishing practices, which hurts local species.

• Keep the environment in mind while shopping. Many makeup and cosmetics brands use harmful chemicals in their products-- for example, most sunscreens can contain chemicals that hurt ecosystems like coral reefs, and many face wash products use plastic microbeads that wash into the ocean. Additionally, environmentally-friendly clothing products include natural fibers like cotton or bamboo. Artificial fibers like polyester and nylon release fibers that end up in the ocean each time they are washed. After they are used, you can also donate or sell your old clothes to stop them from ending up in a landfill!

• Still looking to help? Check out this article from Your News Hub Travel on how to save our oceans!