Earth Day Celebrates 50 Years Amidst Global Pandemic

The first Earth Day mobilized millions of Americans for the protection of the planet. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the street, college campuses, and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

Earth Day is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event and it led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clear Water and Endangered Species Acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and in 2016, United Nations chose Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris climate agreement into force.

Fifty years later, the world is on lock down and the earth may be enjoying a short reprieve.

Scientists around the world have acknowledged decreases in air pollution and noise pollution as citizens have retreated to their homes. In some places, vehicle traffic is down by more than 50% because of the Coronavirus restrictions, and it’s making a difference for the planet and for our health.

During the lock down, scientists are observing other environmental changes as well, including the fact that with more people staying put, the earth is simply more still. Seismologists said that is leading to fewer ground vibrations detected around the world.

For the world’s marine life, fewer people on the beach and on the water means creatures there are getting a break – like endangered sea turtles, who are now able to nest in Florida, without as much human interference, for now.

The dawn and dusk bird choruses have been bringing comfort to many quarantined city dwellers. With reduced traffic noise we can hear them better and they have the freedom and ability to hear each other.

However, these changes are temporary and a pandemic is not the way to achieve long-term environmental changes. Once the lock downs are lifted, things may go back to the way they were. But we hope they don’t. We have an opportunity here to make choices about what kind of “normal” we return to. Will it be the kind of normal that crowds out wildlife and silences the birds? Or will it be the kind of normal that honors our home planet?

At Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, we have kept our public preserves open through COVID-19 for individuals and immediate household members to connect with nature and Hawaiʻi’s wahi kupuna. We hope that everyone who enjoys a place will mālama that place now and after the pandemic ends.  When you go to the beach, bring a bucket with you and have everyone pick up marine debris before you get in the water. When you hike, carry a bag with you to pack out any rubbish found along the way. And when it is safe to gather again, join a monthly volunteer day at one of HILT’s preserves.

Mālama honua.