The larger meaning of Earth Day

Last April 22, countries around the world bonded to celebrate Earth Day to remember and appreciate Mother Earth’s life-giving abundance and promote her beauty. The observance of Earth Day began in 1970 through the initiative of Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin.

On April 4, 1990, the Senate adopted the resolution I filed, urging President Corazon Aquino to declare April 22, 1990, as Earth Day. The resolution was meant to reflect our growing commitment to the conservation of our environment. Its adoption filled our hearts with immense hope.

That was 27 years ago. Today, however, Earth Day has become an observance of all 194 countries to save Mother Earth from the ultimate disaster—climate change, which could overwhelm mankind sooner than we expect, unless we reduce and finally remove carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the atmosphere.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that a concentration of 3,100 billion metric tons of GHGs in the atmosphere has caused the overheating of the whole Earth by an average 1.3°C higher than before the industrial revolution. This overheating is melting the polar caps, the ancient glaciers of the Himalayas, leading to the rising of the oceans and the severe and more frequent typhoons and storms—and great droughts as well.

The global environment that we sought to enhance has deteriorated—much to the anguish of leaders, causing the suffering of populations across the world. Increasing carbon emissions, the result of uncontrolled use of coal and hydrocarbons, are creating climate impacts that are catastrophic:

In Bolivia, Lake Poopo—which used to cover an area of 1,000 square kilometers—has dried up. In Africa, Lake Chad has shrunk by more than 90 percent since 1963.

Prolonged drought and extreme temperatures are taking terrible tolls on food crops.

In sections of Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran, a three-year drought has led to enormous crop failures and the loss of livestock. And in
Mindanao and the Cagayan Valley, we have suffered intermittent droughts.

Deforestation, removal of vegetation and exploitative agriculture have degraded lands, turning these into deserts. In China, the deserts have expanded by 21,000 square miles since 1975, crowding out cropland and whipping up devastating sandstorms. In our own country, these have led to typhoons and tropical storms that are becoming more intense, exacting a higher toll on lives and properties.

Having observed Earth Day 2017, we recognize that climate change is a threat multiplier. It is undermining the economic and political stability of nations. And ecological disasters are wreaking turmoil in many societies to the point where huge numbers of people are being displaced, becoming “environmental migrants” or “climate refugees.”

Earth Day was a consciousness awakening to protect life, to reduce CO2, to reduce the overheating of the Earth. Rapid carbon cuts will curb severe climate change. Governments, communities, individuals must all join hands to reduce CO2.

We appeal to our people to keep their communities clean, to stop the pollution of our rivers and lakes, to grow trees or mangroves along our coastal areas, and to teach our children to love and protect our environment.

Our government could now ramp up the transition to a climate economy with our ratification of the Paris Accord that took effect last Earth Day. It could begin to promote a systematic shift to alternative fuels mix and create the infrastructure necessary to encourage and connect a wide range of climate actions.

Unless we reduce CO2 the overheating of the Earth will continue and if it reaches 2°C mankind cannot stop this heating anymore.
It could mean the gradual destruction of our life-support system and, inevitably, the human civilization.

Earth Day was a day that raised consciousness to love and protect Mother Earth, and to save the generations of man.

Earth Day was a celebration of life!

Heherson T. Alvarez is a former senator and environment secretary.