The Earth Day 2022 theme is focused on engaging the more than 1 billion people, governments, institutions, and businesses who participate in Earth Day to recognize our collective responsibility and to help accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous green economy for all. The goal of EDO's campaign is to push aside the barriers erected by the ancient, dirty fossil fuel economy and their co-conspirators – old technologies of centuries past – and redirect attention to creating a 21st century economy that brings back the health of our planet, protects our species, and provides opportunities for all. EARTHDAY.ORG's campaign is focused on reframing the conversation, accelerating action, and bringing us together to understand that this is within our reach if we work together. 

After COP26 in Glasgow, it is even more apparent that governments will not solve this crisis themselves. Nor are they taking sufficient action to create an equitable economy that will allow all people in all countries to share in the expanding green economy. Despite global inaction and even obstruction, historic green economic and scientific change is accelerating. From energy to technology to philosophy to health to engineering to transportation, forward-thinking national and local governments, activists, artists, innovators, inventors, scientists, universities, individuals, and investors are developing green alternatives and solutions to restore the planet and accelerate a fair economic transition. Educators worldwide are calling for climate education to provide science, civic skills, and inspiration to create a new generation of leaders in every field who will lead their countries, businesses, faiths, and other institutions in this inevitable evolution.

Like the industrial, space, and information revolutions, all sectors of society can and must play major roles–this time with the extraordinary responsibilities to get it right. Need is converging with inventiveness and innovation, but everyone must play a role. 

Governments can open new doors by incentivizing their citizens, businesses, and institutions to create and innovate. They can create a fair global economic system to implement these innovations and changes without giving up their role to advance and protect the public's interests in this transition.  

Individual citizens – as voters, as watchdogs, and as consumers – are responsible for holding business, governments, and others accountable and to support their efforts when they get it right.

Like other economic revolutions, inventors, innovators, businesses, and investors are the most likely to drive significant change. It is up to all three sectors to harness the power of these change agents and the growing green financial markets and require that they create value both for themselves and for society as they drive green innovation.

"Investing In Our Planet means a transformation of our society. We must prioritize what's most important, which is the wellbeing of the planet and constantly work to advance solutions that help combat humanity's greatest threat," said Jean-Betrand Mhandu, Earth Day Regional Director, Zimbabwe, EARTHDAY.ORG.

"In 2022, we all must enter into one partnership for the planet. People, governments, and even most businesses fear change but the status quo - the way we live today - is changing before our eyes. In building our future, individuals, businesses, governments each have a unique role - we need to act individually and together," said Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG. "Unlike other historic economic revolutions, this time there are two additional imperatives: the first is to save ourselves from the climate crisis, and the second is to build new green economies in every country so that everyone can share in the benefits from this green revolution. This will only be done if we invest in our planet's future together."

For more information on Earth Day 2022, the official theme, updates, and how to get involved, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/

ABOUT EARTHDAY.ORG
EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day actions each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at earthday.org.