World Earth Day

ALL behold World Earth Day! It is as simple as it sounds; it is a day about protecting the environment, and has been observed every April 22 since 1970. 

Today at the UN Headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to request world leaders to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change. 

A new legally binding global climate deal is on the cards, after an historical agreement was made back in December in Paris, by a total of 195 countries, in a bid to tackle climate change and protect the planet for future generations. The next step today will see the county´s sign the document, making it legally binding. 

“It will enable us to increase ambition on a regular basis, which is essential if we are to keep global temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius.” Moon explained at a recent press conference. 

The UN boss emphasised: “It has just begun. In 2016, we must go from words to deeds.” 

The ceremony of the signing of the Paris agreement will give each country the opportunity to put words into actions after many discussions. 

On their website, the organisers of Earth Day say: ´This Earth Day and beyond, let’s make big stuff happen. Let’s plant 7.8 billion trees for the Earth. Let’s divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100% renewable. Let’s take the momentum from the Paris Climate Summit and build on it.´

World Earth Day has, in fact, been around for a few years, beginning in the 1970´s. Google, with their ever changing banners celebrating notable birthdays and historical events, were, as ever, quick to mark this event on their ‘Google Doodle.’ On explaining the significance of its series of their images celebrating our planet, they said: ‘It is the one day that transcends culture, language, and tradition.’