Organizers Are Ready For Earth Day 2021 Because They Built The Digital Infrastructure In 2020

The folks at EarthDay.org were hoping for a “normal” celebration in 2021, after the pandemic forced the cancellation of in-person cleanup and other events in 2020. That won’t be the case again this Earth Day, April 22.

But the online networks built last year by EarthDay.org will allow for an estimated 10 million people to tune in for three summits and a second-annual digital live event, the nonprofit says. Some “normal” cleanups also will occur, with people in the field following COVID-safe guidelines.

Anyone can join the summits, which start Tuesday, April 20, on the EarthDay.org site along with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch.

The “three days of climate action” are being put on by EarthDay.org, formerly the Earth Day Network, in partnership with numerous groups. 

They include a global youth summit led by Earth Uprising on April 20 along with an evening “We Shall Breathe” virtual summit by the Hip Hop Caucus, a “Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit” led by Education International on April 21 and a second-annual “Restore Our Earth” digital live event with global leaders, activists, actors and musicians starting at noon Eastern time on Earth Day, April 22.

The first-annual event pulled in 8.5 million viewers. This year’s will run parallel to a Leaders Summit on Climate being held by the Biden administration in Washington, D.C

The 2021 Earth Day theme of “Restore Our Earth” examines natural processes, emerging green technologies and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems, organizers say. Topics will include climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, reforestation efforts, regenerative agriculture, equity and environmental justice, citizen science, cleanups “and beyond.” 

A Jumbotron facing the White House will help broadcast the three summits, says Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org. “Next year, we’re going to have a blowout on the (national) mall if it kills me,” Rogers says. 

Hundreds of thousands of volunteers also plan to be outside for the Great Global Cleanup going on around the world.

“Last year, after investing millions of dollars creating an infrastructure, which is now the biggest NGO, local government-based network in the world, it’s paying off,” Rogers says. 

Communities across the world are dealing with “extraordinary litter,” she says. The Ocean Conservancy recently announced collecting more than 107,000 discarded items of personal protective equipment like face masks from beaches and waterways around the world during the second half of 2020.

After Earth Day

A group called National Cleanup Day that’s also involved plans on breaking records for this year’s Great Global Cleanup, leaders say.

If you’re reading this after Earth Day, check out an Earth Challenge smartphone app that’s been loaded with Artificial Intelligence, “so over time it learns a lot about the source of plastic and plastic bags,” including what soft drink maker the plastic might be from, Rogers says. 

“Our cleanups are just pouring in and people signing up and interested in the app are pouring in,” she says. 

The Global Earth Challenge is a citizen science project run by EarthDay.org in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State and the Wilson Center. 

“Last year, we signed up hundreds of millions of people, groups, schools, to use the app, then COVID struck,” Rogers recalls.

A full rollout of the updated app is now planned for September 2021, focusing on schools, Rogers says. “It’s still focused on petitions and getting community groups to move from volunteerism to activism.”

She added: “We recognize the country’s incredibly divided. Our reputation worldwide was very tarnished over the last four years. We think that what we’ll see coming out of the Biden summit is super stepped-up ambitions.”

Jeff Kart:

I focus on interesting, innovative and revolutionary U.S. stories about green startups and nongovernmental organizations as a Forbes contributor. I'm an environmental communications consultant. That means I spent 20 years in print newspapers until the bottom fell out around 2010. I've been in the virtual world since then as a blogger, writer, editor and social media manager. I author a weekly public radio show on the environment in Bay City, Michigan, where I go by the moniker Mr. Great Lakes. I received a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University, a master's in environmental studies from University of Illinois at Springfield and have completed numerous fellowships and been a featured speaker on environmental reporting and social media at a number of conferences. I love camping. I'm a voracious reader who prefers horror and thrillers as an escape

Read complete article originally published at https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2021/04/19/organizers-are-ready-for-earth-day-2021-because-they-built-the-digital-infrastructure-in-2020/?sh=7585c800228c