The Earth Day 2025 : Our power, our planet

Dr N Munal Meitei *

Our Earth is an amazing gift, but it needs our help to thrive. Earth is the only livable planet in this universe. Thus, on April 22, billions of people in across the world celebrate Earth Day. Earth is facing numerous acute environmental problems such as climate change, pollution, population explosion, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, deforestation, pesticides, human health and many more environmental issues.

Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance, marked for action to change the human behaviour and create local, National and global policies. On its 52nd anniversary, the theme for Earth Day 2025 is "Our Power, Our Planet".

This theme emphasizes the collective responsibility of individuals, organizations and Governments to change to renewable energy sources and build a sustainable future. The goal is to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.

The power sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, accounting for two-thirds of the global total emissions giving profound impacts on the human health and the planet. India's power sector contributed 1.4 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) in 2023. Manipur's total greenhouse gas emissions increased from 1.04 MtCO2e in 2005 to 11.55 Mt CO2e in 2018, with a CAGR of 20.37%.

The impact of human activity on the planet cannot be overstated. But Earth Day isn’t just about one problem. It’s about understanding how everything in nature is interconnected. All living things, big or small have an intrinsic value, and each one plays a unique role in the complex web of life.

The unprecedented global destruction and rapid reduction of plant and wildlife are directly linked to an unhealthy Earth. The impacts are far reaching and if we ignore, extinction could well become a reality.

Earth Day celebration makes us unite to serve for environmental protection and raising awareness on the challenges faced by the planet. It’s a day to appreciate our planet and inspire action towards a sustainable future. Through active participation in Earth Day, we cultivate a culture of responsible living, paving the way for a future where sustainability becomes the norm.

Earth Day is more than a one-day celebration but calls for action throughout the year. By making small changes in our daily lives and supporting environmental initiatives, we all can contribute to a more beautiful Earth. So, this Earth Day, step outside, listen closely. Perhaps the rustling leaves are not just whispers in the wind, but the planet itself reaching out, giving out a message on the suffering of mother Earth.

Earth Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts to protect the planet for future. By educating people, we can inspire to take action in community clean-up to political activism and public demonstrations. One of the key reasons for Earth Day's global success is its ability to unite people across borders and cultures for a common cause.

Environmental issues affect everyone, regardless of where they live or what their background is. By working together, we can create a future for the inhabitants, including the plants and animals that we rely on. By taking part in activities like planting trees and picking up litter, we're making the world a happier, healthier and beautiful place to live.

Citizens, businesses, Governments and civil societies are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate the changes toward a green, prosperous and equitable future.

Investing in a green economy is the only path to a healthy, prosperous and equitable future. We must collectively push away from the filthy fossil fuel economy and old technologies to restore the health of the planet.

Yet, nearly every country in the world is not on track to meet GHG neutrality by 2050. It is possible to keep global warming below 1.5°C, but immediate and significant action is needed now and Governments can’t do it alone.

This time, unlike previous economic revolutions, we are to save humanity from the climate crisis and building green economies in every country so that everyone benefits from this green practice. This can only be done if we invest together in our planet’s future. Overcoming climate change is within reach if we work together to commit to act and invest in our planet and our collective future.

Everything the humans need to survive and thrive are provided by the Earth: food, water, medicines, material and even natural cycles such as climate and nutrients. To replenish the used-up resources, the Earth also needs sufficient time. But our human consumption is much more exceeding and hence to meet our present demand, we will require two Earths by 2030.

Together, we win and divided we fall. We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make today will make the planet a livable future. Hence, Government and policy makers need to implement more aggressive steps, regulations and market instruments to hunt down and eliminate the excessive carbon emissions and otherwise, we are almost digging our own graves.

Actually, we are looking at the climate problem through the wrong lens by talking about the reduction of greenhouse gas as a cost rather than an economic opportunity. Climate action is not just about reducing emissions but choosing a new development path creating jobs for the future development.

We all must be connected and take part the Earth Day celebration by way of planting trees, organizing awareness, seeing the nature, reading the nature books, going green and organic, going for green power, avoiding food & water waste and doing all eco-friendly activities irrespective of our national boundaries.

Without Earth, no living beings can be there. Changing the way, we live today means we will be able to prosper tomorrow. Since we are born, one day we will depart from this lovely Earth. Let’s make the Earth, a green and beautiful planet for the humanity and the future generations.