Earth Day
#OurPower,Our Planet
By Veronica Wanyee
Importance of Celebrating Earth Day
Earth Day is an international holiday dedicated to environmental protection and awareness of the
importance of taking meaningful steps to safeguard our planet. It is celebrated annually on 22nd
April (Dayspedia, 2026).
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 in the United States (U.S.), where more than 20 million
people did demonstrations across different U.S. cities to express their support for environmental
protection. This was initiated by Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, who wanted to draw
attention to the decades of unchecked industrialization and its resulting environmental damage
(US EPA, 2019). In 1990, 200 million people in 141 countries commemorated the day, making it
global. Today, it is recognized in 193 countries including Kenya (1ClickImpact, 2026).
Earth Day Theme for 2026
The global theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet” which reflects on the
importance and role of people and communities on sustaining environmental protections that
affect the human quality of life (Day, 2026). Environmental conditions influence food systems,
energy access, availability of water, disaster risk, and economic resilience across all regions
(Staff, 2026)
This year, Earth Day affirms that the capacity to address environmental challenges is established
and that progress is happening across communities through local leadership and cross-sector
collaborations (Day, 2026). It is based on two pillars:
(i) Resilience and institutional continuity which acknowledges and calls locally driven efforts
to action stating that this will help ensure the continuity of essential services and economic
activity.
(ii) Shared interests and interconnected outcomes which acknowledges the interconnectivity
of environmental systems globally and defines environmental protection as a preventive policy
which can reduce mainstream costs associated with healthcare, disaster response, migration
pressures, and economic disruption.
African Context
Africa’s prevalent reliance on natural resources for livelihood highlights a significant reason to
protect the environment. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in the ‘African
Environment Outlook 3: Our Environment, Our Health’ found that 28% of Africa’s disease
burden is as a result of environmental factors such as mosquitos, contaminated water and air
pollution.
Malaria, one of the most significant environmentally related causes of mortality in Africa, has
spread into the cooler highlands of countries like Kenya and Rwanda due to warming
temperatures in the highlands (Lamere, 2024).
Air pollution is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in Africa. Outdoor air pollution
contributes to an estimated 40,000 deaths in Africa, each year. This is exacerbated by rapid
urbanization and poor infrastructure. Indoor pollution contributes to respiratory infections which
kills approximately 484,000 African children under the age of five every year (Lamere, 2024).
Impact of Environmental Change on Mental Health
A significant aspect of environmental change that impacts mental health is climate change.
Climate change is expected to worsen mental health outcomes worldwide (Lawrance et al., 2021:
Romanello et al., 2021), especially for the vulnerable individuals and communities (IPCC,
2022). The effects of climate change on mental health remain largely unexplored compared to
impacts on physical health. This is concerning especially given the increased population
exposure to heat waves, flooding or wildfires, which are causes of psychological traumas:
extreme weather events cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression;
extreme temperatures affect mood, increase suicide risk, worsen behavioural disorders and
impact the well-being of those with mental health issues (European Union, 2022).
In Africa, the lack of longitudinal data makes it challenging to understand the cumulative and
long-term impact of the climate crisis (Lewins et al., 2025). However, certain vulnerable
populations within Africa are suggested to have a significant risk of developing mental health
difficulties, including those who depend directly on the environment for their livelihood such as
farmers and pastoralists in rural Ghana who reported poor mental health related to livestock
losses, linked to climate crisis (Nuvey et al., 2020).
Call to Action
Every individual has the power to create change. Some of the ways to participate in Earth Day
include:
1.Plant a tree.
2.Reuse, recycle, or return old plastic bottles and containers.
3.Conserve water.
4.Attend an activity or event dedicated to Earth Day
5.Share information about Earth Day on social media.
6.Stay informed about environmental issues through credible sources.
7.Spend time in nature.
Carry on with these initiatives even beyond Earth Day for the betterment of our environment.
REFERENCES
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https://dayspedia.com/ke/calendar/holiday/784
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