A baby gorilla at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. Photo Credit: Dixon Newman/Unsplash

Humanity’s only habitable home/planet is Earth. To mark this year’s  Earth Day which fell on 22^nd April, 2023, we highlight, according to UNFCCC, the average temperatures of the planets in our solar system as follows:  Mercury 167°C; Venus 464°C; Earth 15°C; Mars -65°C; Jupiter -110°C; Saturn -140°C; Uranus -195°C; and Neptune -200°C. Earth is like no other planet, hence the need for us to guard it jealously from the triple planetary crisis (the climate emergency, biodiversity loss and pollution) that is bleeding it. It is about time we protected our only home.  

According to UNEP, the first Earth Day took place in 1970. Outraged by oil spills, smog and polluted rivers, 20 million people took to the streets, protesting what they recognized as an environmental crisis. It was the planet’s largest civic event at the time and compelled governments to take concrete actions, including passing environmental laws and establishing environmental agencies. In addition to these practical outcomes, the event demonstrated just how much can be achieved when people come together and demand action.

In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution formally recognizing the day as International Mother Earth Day. On Earth Day 2016, the United Nations formally adopted the Paris Agreement, articulating the commitment of nations to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C over pre-industrial levels; and to strengthen the ability of countries to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.

Climate change is the greatest threat to life on earth. The science is clear: the window to fix it is rapidly closing so much so that humanity is about to rob itself of the possibility of keeping global heating below 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels as required by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

António Guterres, the UN Chief, urging humanity to halt its relentless and senseless wars on nature that are laying waste to forests, jungles, farmland, wetlands, oceans, coral reefs, rivers, seas, and lakes; emphasised on Earth Day that – “from the air we breathe to the water we drink to the soil that grows our food – humanity’s health depends on the health of Mother Earth.”

There is urgent need for accelerated climate action entailing deeper and faster emissions cuts, in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. Equally urgent is the need to massively scale-up investments in adaptation and resilience, particularly for the most vulnerable countries and communities who have done the least to cause the crisis such as African states like Uganda and low lying Small Island states. We need climate justice now!

Addressing the climate crisis requires political will. Familiarize yourself with issues related to the climate crisis and where political candidates in your area stand. Use your vote to support those committed to reducing emissions, and call on others to take climate action more seriously.

By writing letters, organizing meetings and arranging debates, you can encourage leaders to commit to the goals of the Paris Agreement, increase the transparency around climate policies and devote resources to adapting to existing climate-related challenges. Call on leaders to get behind the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy and energy efficiency, commit to ecosystem restoration projects, and use public funds to finance green technology and innovation.

Businesses must promote sustainability – not only to safeguard the planet, but also to ensure their own long-term stability.

Let us do everything in our power to protect mother earth for our sake, future generations and for the sake of all biodiversity.

About us:
The Environment Shield is a civic organization (nonprofit) working for people and the planet/nature. We use the law, media/advocacy, strategic litigation, community engagement, research, collaborations, monitoring and documentation to battle the climate emergency, biodiversity loss and pollution while centering social justice, rule of law, human rights, and ecological justice. SDGs, sustainable development, climate justice and the right to a clean and healthy environment are key pillars of our work. Our vision is a green and just society.