Earth Day 2023 takes place tomorrow across the globe, in what will be the 53rd annual celebration.
The main goal of Earth Day is to raise awareness of how important the environment is - and how it needs to be protected. People and communities across the globe come together to clean up their local areas, planting trees or contribute in some other way to taking care of the environment.
Here's everything you need to know about Earth Day 2023, as well as what's on in Dublin tomorrow.
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When is Earth Day 2023?
Earth Day 2023 takes place tomorrow, Saturday April 22. It has been held on this date since it first started back in 1970 in the US.
The idea of an "Earth Day" was first mentioned in 1969 by activist John McDonnell at the Unesco conference in California with a March 21 date originally planned. However a month after this, an American senator suggested a nationwide "teach-in" on April 22 which has since become what's known as Earth Day.
The theme for Earth Day 2023
Every year Earth Day has a specific theme. For this year it's "Invest in our planet". Acting as a continuation of last year’s well-received campaign, the theme is focused on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and the more than 1 billion citizens who participate annually in Earth Day to do their part, according to earthday.org.
President of EARTHDAY.ORG Kathleen Rogers said: “In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future.
"We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest In Our Planet."
What's on for Earth Day in Dublin
There is an interactive map Earth Day website to let people know what events are taking place nearby. Many of them are online so don't feel limited.
There will be a number of public cleanups in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Howth, Dún Laoghaire, and Dublin City Centre. Charity programme Clean Coasts are launching their Enjoy and Protect campaign by releasing a new free resource guide and hosting a Stand Up Paddle Boarding clean up around Dún Laoghaire Harbor.
On the more creative side, Poetry Ireland in conjunction with Clean Coasts supported by Waterways Ireland are hosting a poetry clean-up of the Grand Canal in Dublin. In-between cleaning up our beautiful canals, there will be intermittent entertainment from poets Jean O’Brien, Sree Sen, and Sonya Gildea.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s leading climate campaigning organisation Friends of the Earth is bringing ‘Cuppa for Climate’ to Bewley’s Cafe on Grafton Street to launch a new climate action initiative and to celebrate the climate movement. Friends of the Earth's Claudia Tormey said: "Cuppa for Climate is an invitation for communities to gather, chat and chip in for climate action.
"We want to help bring people together in their community around shared concerns for the planet and to inspire collective action. Coming together around climate action reminds us that we’re not alone in our worry and in our action. It’s a great way to combat our eco-anxiety."
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