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The 50th anniversary of
Earth Day was unlike any other.

With COVID-19 causing public health lockdowns around the world, Earth Day, the planet's largest civic event, went entirely digital for the first time in its history. On every continent, in dozens of languages, humanity celebrated our shared home.

We resolved that after the COVID-19 pandemic ended, we would restore our Earth to a cleaner, fairer, better world for everyone.

PEOPLE TOOK ACTION
AS EARTH DAY WENT DIGITAL
FIND THE EARTH DAY 2020 POSTERS AT THE BOTTOM
OF THIS PAGE

Local leaders CREATED events around the world

This map traces their work.

Select the date April 1, 2020, on the left to see our 2020 events.

Worldwide demonstrations and volunteer events pre-COVID built up energy for the day

We Built on Earth Day'S Legacy

The first Earth Day in 1970 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 streets, 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 and is now recognized as the planet's largest civic event.

Earth Day led to passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States, including the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. Many countries soon adopted similar laws, and in 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris Climate Agreement into force.

"Despite that amazing success and decades of environmental progress, we find ourselves facing an even more dire, almost existential, set of global environmental challenges, from loss of biodiversity to climate change to plastic pollution, that call for action at all levels of government," said Denis Hayes, the organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970 and Earth Day Network's Board Chair Emeritus.

"Progress has slowed, climate change impacts grow, and our adversaries have become better financed," said EARTHDAY.ORG president Kathleen Rogers. "We find ourselves today in a world facing global threats that demand a unified global response. For Earth Day 2020, we will build a new generation of environmentalist activists, engaging millions of people worldwide."

the History of Earth Day

Discover the history of Earth Day, and our plans, half a century later
Our History

Earth Day 2020 FAQ

Earth Day is April 22 of every year. April 22, 2020 marked 50 years of Earth Day.

The theme for Earth Day 2020 was climate action. The enormous challenge - but also the vast opportunities - of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.

Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis - oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans - 10% of the U.S. population at the time - took to the streets, 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, and is now recognized as the planet's largest civic event.

The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws.

Earth Day continues to hold major international significance: In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force.

On Earth Day 2020, we seized all the tools and actions that we have, big and small, to change our lives and change our world, not for one day, but forever.

While the coronavirus may force us to keep our distance, it did not force us to keep our voices down. The only thing that will change the world is a bold and unified demand for a new way forward.

We may be apart, but through the power of digital media, we're also more connected than ever.

On April 22, we showcased 24 hours of action in a global digital mobilization that drove actions big and small, gave diverse voices a platform and demanded bold action for people and the planet.

Over the 24 hours of Earth Day, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day filled the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more.

While Earth Day went digital, our goal remained the same: to mobilize the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference.

No matter where you are, you can still make a difference. Check out Our Work to keep the momentum going. Together, we can save the Earth.

After April 22, these still look great.
Not to be used for profit or other commercial purposes.

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For your marches, rallies, and parades

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The enormous challenges of acting on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

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Quizinière : création et partage d'exercices pédagogiques en ligne

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Pour vos évaluations, créez des exercices en ligne simplement et gratuitement à l'aide de textes à trous, QCM, dessins, vidéos, sons, etc.

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Ecoutez attentivement la leçon

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Anglais lycée :  savoir utiliser l'article zéro

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Test your knowledge with the fascinating world of articles with our engaging "A, An, The Quiz." This quiz is designed to test and improve your understanding of these essential components of English grammar. Each question is crafted to challenge your knowledge and help you master the correct usage of "a,"... see more

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Articles Quiz: A, An, The Quiz Online Questions And Answers

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Test your knowledge with the fascinating world of articles with our engaging "A, An, The Quiz." This quiz is designed to test and improve your understanding of these essential components of English grammar. Each question is crafted to challenge your knowledge and help you master the correct usage of "a," "an," and "the."

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Ecoutez attentivement cette leçon. Attention les confusions sur ce point de grammaire sont fréquentes dans vos productions !

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Les subordonnées relatives - Anglais - Terminale - Les Bons Profs

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Quizz et activités Subordonnées relatives 

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Quizz et activités Subordonnées relatives 

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Anglais Facile | Cours et Exercices d'Anglais gratuit et facile

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11- La subordonnée relative (Relative Clauses) - Exercice Anglais niveau 1

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Exercice d’anglais sur La subordonnée relative (Relative Clauses) - niveau 1 - ESL - Facile Anglais - Cliquez sur la bonne subordonnée relative.

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Revisions: Les temps en anglais en 15 minutes ! 

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Revisions: Les temps en anglais en 15 minutes ! 

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Apprendre l'anglais avec les Tutos de Huito

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Comprendre TOUS les temps en anglais en 15 minutes

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Licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale 4.0 International.

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Regardez la bande annonce du documentaire sur les gorilles en danger dans le parc du Virunga, et faire le quizz proposé (niveau A2). Tous ces éléments vous serviront d'exemple pour étoffer et illustrer vos expressions.

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Virunga gorilla, gorille, monkey, singe, environnement

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WATCH THIS TRAILER AND ANSWER MY QUESTIONS : The Virunga National Park official site is here :

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Niveau A2+

Watch and read the subitles of this video before answering the quiz. Have fun !

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ecology Dark Vador saves planet environment wwf humour

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Watch and read the subitles of this video before answering the quiz. Have fun !

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Discover yoga over your holiday.

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If you don't know Greta Thunberg, you need to go do a Google search right now. This 16-year-old environmental activist seems to be the only person who is publicly serious about the repercussions of climate change at the moment. And let's be honest, so far this year has proved to us that global warming is no longer a faraway threat - it's here. It's serious, and it's causing crazy weather patterns that's beyond our control. The worst part is that very few countries are doing everything they can to stop it from getting worse, and that's where Thunberg comes in.

Enter Greta Thunberg

Thunberg, who traveled to the United States all the way from Sweden on a zero-emission sailboat, did something that few have done before her at Monday's United Nations Climate Action Summit - she told it like it is. She didn't hold back - she told all the world leaders present that they are stealing her generation's future, and we can't disagree.

Thunberg's powerful speech left many, well, speechless. NBC News reports that she was bold and frank, saying, "I shouldn't be up here. I should be back at school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words."

Living in a fairytale world

We should really take a long, hard look at ourselves at this stage. Why does a 16-year-old have to do all this for us to sit up and pay attention? We should be protecting them, not the other way around. Thunberg made it clear that we are all living in a fairytale world and need a serious wake-up call. She had some harsh words for the members of the U.N., saying that they care more about money and "fairytales of eternal economic growth" instead of focusing on the fact that ecosystems are collapsing which, in turn, is leading to mass extinction. She also touched on the subject of leaders being ignorant about how climate change is affecting people.

"You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency, but no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil, and that I refuse to believe," Thunberg said.

Cutting carbon emissions

She also addressed the issue of cutting emissions by 50 percent in 10 years, basically calling this "popular idea" nonsense. Cutting emissions by 50 percent would only result in a 50 percent chance of keeping the warming trend below the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold. According to Thunberg, this is not nearly enough. The percentage needs to be higher, because if we fail to keep the warming trend below that temperature, the results would be catastrophic. She added that "a 50 percent risk is simply not acceptable to us - we who have to live with the consequences."

The CO2 budget

She also touched on the earth's remaining CO2 budget, which is looking pretty dire. She cited a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that said that "the planet has experienced a more than 70 gigaton deficit in the earth's remaining CO2 budget since January 2018." She then slammed the leaders of the United Nations once more, saying that they aren't suggesting any revolutionary plans to reduce emissions because they simply aren't "mature enough to tell it like it is." She added, "You are failing us, but young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you and if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you."

President Trump felt the need to tweet

President Trump, who briefly attended the summit in mid-session, only to leave a few moments later to attend a meeting on religious freedom, tweeted a reply to Thunberg's speech on Monday night, making it clear that he doesn't take her seriously.

She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see! https://t.co/1tQG6QcVKO

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019

Other world leaders heeded Thunberg's call

Luckily, According to BBC News, other world leaders seemed to have had the opposite reaction. More than 60 nations announced that they will be working on plans to make sure greenhouse gasses are reduced to virtually zero. A similar number promised to boost their climate change ambitions by next year. In even more good news, the EU, China, and India promised to have tougher carbon-curbing plans in 2020.

Finland is ahead of everyone, aiming to become the first industrialized nation to absorb more carbon than it emits. Pakistan has pledged to add 10 billion trees in the next five years to the billion it has planted in the past five years. Greece addressed an issue we're all too familiar with - single-use plastics. Its leaders pledged to ban these by 2021 and promised that by 2028, it will phase out its use of the dirtiest coal.

Climate change organizations agree with Thunberg

Thunberg's speech also led to reactions from climate change organizations. The charity ActionAid's spokesperson, Harjeet Sing, seemed to share Thunberg's views on the current state of affairs: "This summit was supposed to be a turning point. But we have seen an exceptional lack of commitment from the biggest and richest polluting countries that continue to take trivial measures toward solving a life-or-death crisis."

The head of Greenpeace International, Jennifer Morgan, expressed her disappointment in world leaders, saying that they did not deliver what was needed at the summit. Kate Hampton from the Children's Investment Fund Foundation asked an important question: "If we can't massively accelerate the many solutions available to us now... then what are we doing, really?"

What are we doing?

Yes, what are we doing? Not enough, clearly. We all have to remember that there is power in numbers. Once we all start to stand up to our governments and demand change, we might actually get somewhere. That's what Thunberg did at age 15 when she held her first climate strike outside the Swedish parliament. This strike inspired hundreds more around the globe. Her leap of faith and determination also landed Thunberg the opportunity to speak before numerous international bodies, including the World Economic Forum. At this gathering she was as frank as ever, telling world leaders how they should be reacting to climate change: "I don't want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act."

Flash forward a year later, and Thunberg led 150 countries in a youth-led Global Climate Strike that took place on September 20. Millions of people around the world demanding authorities to take action made headlines. Thunberg was leading the march in New York, where she told the thousands that had gathered for the strike that "this is an emergency. Our house is on fire."

You CAN make a change

Let that sink in for a moment, and remember that you have the power to make small changes to your daily life to help reduce the impact you have on climate change. Stop telling yourself that "just you" won't make a change. If every single person in the world tells themselves that, we're lost for good. But imagine if every single one of us decided that we can do something to make a positive impact, no matter how small. Imagine the things we could achieve...
What small changes are you making to reduce your carbon footprint? Share some ideas and life hacks in the comments.
[Free ebook] Stop worrying whether you're doing a pose right, or if you are doing something that will eventually require a few trips to the emergency room. 🚑

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Why Greta Thunberg's Speech Shocked the U.N. (Video) - Bad Yogi Blog

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If you don't know Greta Thunberg, you need to go do a Google search right now. This 16-year-old environmental activist seems to be the only person who is publicly serious about the repercussions of climate change at the moment.

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Image from the YouTube video "Le discours de Greta Thunberg à l'ONU" by Le Monde

This week, a 4,5-minute speech by a teenager gave me goosebumps. Not because of its content alone (that's not today's topic), but because of its pure power in using all the right public speaking tools that made the message so clear, so evocative, and so impactful.

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year old climate activist from Sweden, delivered a largely viewed speech at the United Nations on Monday. She has been celebrated for her activism on climate change by many across the globe but has equally received heavy backlash and criticism from others through television and social media.

I, as a public speaking coach and pedagogical manager at Present Perfect, will not focus on political views of the speech. I will focus on everything that is public speaking; on how we can provide people with the best possible tools to effectively deliver their messages, create clear and powerful presentations, and how to use the right rhetoric to motivate and convince our audience.

Diving into the analysis of Greta Thunberg's public speaking style has made it very hard to steer clear from reading various political agendas and (quite spiteful) commentaries, so I have done my very best to focus predominantly on her style as a public speaker and what worked well.

1. The Voice

What caught my attention with Greta Thunberg is that she has a very soft and quiet voice, which is often a catalyst for fear when it comes to public speaking for many. Phrases like "I don't sound authoritative enough", or "I can't speak loud enough to be heard" are only a few of many I hear on a regular basis. Greta Thunberg might not have a deep strong baritone that projects authority, nor a mature husky voice that evokes trust; but what struck me most about that, is that she didn't need any of this in order to get her message across!

The use of intentional pauses and silences in her speech were extremely effective. By regularly taking deep breaths and allowing herself to slow things right down, she was able to remain focused on her key arguments which contributed to her message being clearly heard as well as evoking the exact emotional reactions she was looking for from her audience.

Her intonation on the right words and syllables as well as her repetitive use of the phrase "how dare you" made this speech all the more impactful (in whichever way you want to view that impact).

2. Rhetoric

In public speaking, you ultimately have to lean on the art of persuasion. Incorporating Aristotle's three rhetorical devises (ethos, pathos, and logos) and use these different tactics to effectively deliver a speech is a must to effectively impact your audiences.

Greta Thunberg did an excellent job in applying all three of Aristotle's approaches in her less than 5-minute speech. Her visibly emotional opening statement (pathos) had Greta express her frustration, with her voice wavering in ager as she said "We are at the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth". We all heard critics called it 'overdramatic' and 'a meltdown' speech, I just think they've mistaken meltdown with showing the world and its leaders that she's had enough! (and I think she did a great job! We all know that one remembers more the feelings, the emotions felt hearing a speech than the actual content of the speech - Just saying).

With emotions running high during her speech, it didn't stop her from grounding herself and her message with facts and statistics (logos) to back up her frustration and urgency to act. She did not only expect feelings alone to spark people to act (she knows her audience better than that), so she hit them with indisputable facts and logic, simply so, the science.

Her credibility (or the ethos) was found in her youth. She spoke on behalf of the next generation who are going to end up dealing with the changes in climate (however dire you think they may or may not be) and who better to speak up for the younger generation than a teenager herself?

3. Assertive Communication

Greta Thunberg may be called many things by both her supporters and critics alike, but one thing no one should dispute is that her communication style is assertive. Her continuous use of "I' statement in expressing her opinions has her take responsibility for her own emotions while she backs these up with facts to explain her message and be clearer in conveying what she wants and what she needs from others.

She is very clear in the boundaries she has set for herself as a public speaker and her style shows there is no room for being manipulated. Just look at her mature and composed responses to a lot of the hate she has gotten after the UN speech (which is more than I can say for some of her 'grown up' haters).

And last but not least, to come back to Ms. Thunberg's softer voice and lower volume when speaking, her language remains descriptive with no room for misinterpretation of what she wants her audience to know and to take away from her message.

All in all, here I give Greta Thunberg an enthusiastic two thumbs up for her style as a public speaker with her ability to deliver a clear message, using the right rhetoric, and making an impact (even with a smaller voice).

Like Greta said so herself when this all started: "Sometimes a whisper is louder than shouting".

Review by Stefanie, public speaking coach, and guardian of Present Perfect pedagogy.

To watch Greta's speech via Le Monde 👉🏻 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4e5l-XUmfI

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Greta Thunberg - ONU speech review - Present Perfect

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This week, a 4,5-minute speech by a teenager gave me goosebumps. Not because of its content alone (that's not today's topic), but because of its pure power in using all the right public speaking tools that made the message so clear, so evocative, and so impactful.