Earth Day: 5 interesting things about the environmentalist holiday

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Monday, April 22, 2024

Theme for 2024

For this year, the theme for Earth Day is “Planet vs. Plastics,” which is aimed at spreading awareness of how plastic products can harm the environment and human health.

The official Earth Day website calls on “students, parents, businesses, governments, churches, unions, individuals, and NGOs” to work toward “a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040 and an ultimate goal of building a plastic-free future for generations to come.”

Part of the goal, according to organizers, is “phasing out all single use plastics by 2030,” “demanding policies ending the scourge of fast fashion and the vast amount of plastic it produces and uses,” and “investing in innovative technologies and materials to build a plastic-free world.”

“Plastics extend beyond an imminent environmental issue; they present a grave threat to human health as alarming as climate change. As plastics break down into microplastics, they release toxic chemicals into our food and water sources and circulate through the air we breathe,” stated the official website.

“Plastic production now has grown to more than 380 million tons per year. More plastic has been produced in the last [10] years than in the entire 20th century, and the industry plans to grow explosively for the indefinite future.”