National Geographic Traveller UK April 2020

WHAT IS IT?

It’s a global movement demonstrating

support for environmental protection and

raising awareness of climate issues

Timeline

IMAGES: GETTY

CLIMATE ACTION

22 APRIL MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH DAY. WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE
HALF-CENTURY OF ITS EXISTENCE? WORDS: TAMSIN WRESSELL

THE INFO

IN NUMBERS

1 billion

The number of individuals

who take part each year

192

The estimated number of

countries that participate in

Earth Day

7.6 billion

Overall population of the world

as recorded in 2018

Paris

Agreement

Earth Day 2016 was

the backdrop to the

signing of the Paris

Agreement, which

aimed to strengthen

the global response

to the threat of

climate change and

help countries

deal with the

impacts.

SOURCES: EARTHDAY.ORG; GREENMATCH.CO.UK; INDEPENDENT.CO.UK; FOX GROUP; NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM

2000

Digital media gives

Earth Day a boost,

reaching more than

180 countries; the

main focus is on a

global initiative to

clean, renewable

energy sources.

1985

Scientists discover

a hole in the

ozone layer in the

stratosphere above

Antarctica. In 1987,

world leaders agree

to phase out ozone-

depleting chemicals.

1990

Earth Day is

marked in 141

countries. The UN’s

Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC)

releases a global

warming report.

2020

In its 50th year, Earth

Day will again reach

one billion people.

The theme is climate

action, representing

the biggest challenge

to the future

of humanity.

1970

The irst Earth Day

draws attention

to the need for

environmental

protections, and

the US’ National

Environmental Policy

Act takes efect.

2010

The Earth Day Network

launches A Billion

Acts of Green, a

campaign that rewards

individuals and groups

seeking to reduce

carbon emissions and

support sustainability.

Recycling one bottle can save

enough energy to power a

light bulb for four hours

Every ton of recycled paper

could save 17 trees

95% of energy used in making

aluminium drink cans can be

saved when recycled

green facts

TAKE THREE

20 million

The number of Americans

who took part in the irst Earth

Day in 1970. The event was

established by US Senator

Gaylord Nelson ater he

witnessed the impact of a

massive oil spill in Santa

Barbara, California, in 1969.

HELP PROTECT WILDLIFE

Join National Geographic as it focuses on saving 50 of the

planet’s at-risk species. Find out how you can help, beginning

1 April at national geographic.co.uk

#natgeosavetogether

TRAVEL GEEKS

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