The second blog in a series of 13 sharing art, articles, and abstract ideas that spark a contagious conversation.
As the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day was celebrated digitally around the globe, millions connected for over 12 hours of online content reaffirming their love for this great blue marble we all call home. Without a doubt, Earth Day 2020 demonstrated that the call for environmental action provides unity, even in a time of uncertainty.
Earth Day 2020 and the Future Coalition featured a three day live streamed event: Day 1- Earth Day and climate justice, Day 2 – Stop the money pipeline and Day 3 – Get out the Vote for climate justice.
Perhaps the biggest successes of Wednesdays event came from former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who sent an urgent call for an end to the burning of fossil fuels. Pope Francis addressed his congregation by saying “Because of our selfishness, we have failed in our responsibility to be guardians and stewards of the Earth,” and many pledged to adopt plant based diets in the name of environmental protection. The tone of the day was hopeful, urgent, and unifying. It was certainly a day to be remembered.
Among all of the celebration, one thing remained clear: the coronavirus is still public enemy #1, and the reason for the altered Earth Day event. The tie between those two truths never loosened. And, according to a Harvard study released ealier this month, the tie could be more important than it seems.
Harvard biologists Xiao Wu and Rachel C. Nethery state that, “COVID-19 may kill between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans. The majority of the pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of death for COVID-19 are the same diseases that are affected by long-term exposure to air
pollution.” Their study found that an increase even a small increased exposure to air pollution is associated with a 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate. In other words, small increase in long-term exposure to pollution leads to a large increase in COVID-19 death rate. This study and its results underscore the importance of continuing to enforce existing air pollution regulations to protect human health both during, and after, the COVID-19 crisis.
In order to protect each other from this virus, we must also protect the environment we live in.
Full link to Harvard Study can be found at: https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/covidpm/files/pm_and_covid_mortality.pdf. A full recording of the live stream can be found at https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/#the-three-days and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceO4pCY_b4N76IpDSmP_2g.
For more information on COVID-19 and Climate Change, check back on the blog next week.
Written by Tatum Eames, Western Washington University Senior and Climate Justice Now Intern.