Many ideas about the state of the earth exist. But one reality that experts have disclosed about the earth is that the signs stemming from the planet - which is the host of all life activities - show a patient declining in health. To such, humans must then realise the role it has to play in protecting the earth and ensuring the continuity of life on this planet. Everyone must realise their moral obligations to be good custodians of the earth by acting as responsible trustees of the legacy of future generations.

Every 22nd of April, the world celebrates ‘Global Earth Day’ to draw attention to the state of the planet while also bringing awareness to activities and actions that can ensure a healthy and sustainable planet. The global celebration started in 1970 when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in 1969, held a conference in San Francisco which honoured a proposal by peace activist John McConnell who proposed a day to honour the Earth.

The 2022 theme for the global event is Invest in Our Planet. And this theme centres around five primary features: The Great Global Cleanup, Sustainable Fashion, Climate and Environmental Literacy, Canopy Project, Food and Environment, and the Global Earth Challenge.

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The Great Global Cleanup: This is a global campaign targeted at the removal of billions of pieces of trash from neighbourhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails, e.tc. Everyone is charged to join/form small groups to engage in community cleanup to primarily clean their environment and by extension, the earth.

Sustainable Fashion: The fashion industry is one that has leveraged exoticism to thrive globally. But while this is true of fashion, attention has been drawn to the dangers that unethical fashion can cause on a global scale. The global campaign that promotes sustainable fashion is one that is drawing attention to the need to pay close attention to the entire lifecycle of a product: from the design, sourcing and production processes and even the finishing.

Climate and Environmental Literacy: This global campaign is targeted at educating, people on the need to be environmentally cautious and aware of the changes in the climate and their environment. Private and government bodies are charged greatly to ensure that everyone is made aware of the state of the planet and what can be done to save it.

Canopy Project, Food and Environment: This campaign draws attention to the importance of planting trees which improves our shared environment globally. Organisations and individuals alike are charged to embark on the canopy project. 

Global Earth Challenge: This is a research and data-based project that seeks to provide answers to environmental and global climate issues. 

What is the state of the Earth and What can we do about it?

The earth, as described earlier is a patient declining health and the symptoms of the disease it suffers continue to grow rapidly before our eyes. According to reports, the temperature of the earth has been rising over the years, with the earth’s oceans experiencing high levels of marine heatwaves.

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A 2020 report by Columbia University revealed that more than 80 per cent of the world’s oceans experienced marine heatwaves in 2020. In the Arctic - one of Earth’s coldest regions, - 2020 was an exceptionally warm year with temperatures more than 3 degrees Celsius above average – and more than 5 degrees in northern Siberia. The numbers also rose in 2021. 

The Greenland ice also has also continued to lose an average of 278 gigatons of ice per year. Apocalyptic wildfires, floods, cyclones and hurricanes are increasing by the day.

High levels of carbon emission is one thing that affects the earth and threatens the idea of clean, green earth. The production and use of fossil fuels, deforestation, pollution, e.t.c are all threats to a cleaner and greener earth.

However, in 2020, the COVID-19 lockdowns temporarily reduced emissions and pollution globally. Undoubtedly a period of health uncertainties, the pandemic provided a break for the earth to somehow, rest from all the carbon emissions and pollution caused by human beings.

However, reports have revealed that carbon dioxide levels have risen after the world has eased out of lockdowns. In 2019, before lockdowns, carbon dioxide levels reached 148 per cent of pre-industrial levels - it has also maintained an upward trend since 2020.

In creating a better earth, we must try to perfect climate policies that limit temperature rise to 1.5-degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and the world needs to decrease fossil fuel production by roughly 6 per cent every year between now and 2030.

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Making peace with the planet should be the single most important thing for many countries globally as the environmental issues were caused by men and can also be undone by men.

It is just as Hakeem Jimoh, CEO of VeggieVictory, Nigeria's 1st Plant-Based Food Company puts it when asked to comment: “I will love to see the skies turned bluer again, just like during the pandemic: people reflected on the state of the earth and I think it's something we can all do again. Also, plant-based nutrition, for me is one of the simplest and most doable actions for every one of us. And that is a solution to multiple challenges of the state of the planet today” 

In the context of post-pandemic, the recovery from that period should be an opportunity we can all leverage. With the COVID-19, there’s hope with the vaccines that have been created. But sadly, there is no vaccine for the planet which is yet to recover from what humans have done.

It is time for everyone to flick the “green switch”. We have a chance to not only reset the world economy but to transform it into a sustainable one driven by renewable energies that will create new jobs, cleaner infrastructure and a resilient future.

Here are some African Startups that have flicked on the 'green switch'

Hestian — Hestian is an organisation that primarily works on fuel efficiency projects in Africa, reducing the negative health and environmental.

Animus Sustainability Portal — Animus's mission is to significantly increase the visibility of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable companies in Africa.

VeggieVictory - Nigeria’s first plant-based food company.

Phyto Pro - South African startup focused in the production of plant-based protein products.

Mellowcabs - South African electric mini-cab service providers.

Zembo Motorcycle - A Ugandan-based startup that provides electric motorcycle services.

Bekia - Based in Egypt, this startup provides a platform for waste exchange.

Botanic Earth Initiative — An Ecological-Environmental Non-Profit Organization based in Cape Town, South Africa.

WESSA — WESSA is a dynamic South African environmental NGO with a mission to implement high impact environmental and conservation projects.

African Bamboo — Based in Addis Ababa, African Bamboo has developed an environmentally friendly thermal process for treating bamboo, called ThermoWood.

Sperosens — Sperosens provides Environmental Monitoring and Fire Protection solutions to the African mining industry.