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UN Climate Change News, 20 April 2021 – Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April, will again see more than 1 billion people participating in activities around the world to draw attention to the urgency of the climate crisis and environmental degradation and the need for immediate action. This year, it also presents a major opportunity for significant climate action announcements.

Many important environmental events have happened on Earth Day since its inception in 1970, including the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016. The theme for this year – the second Earth Day Live digital event - is: Restore our Earth. General, António Guterres, called for decisive action to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption: “Mother Earth is clearly urging a call to action. Let’s remind more than ever on this International Mother Earth Day that we need a shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet,” he said.

Several major climate-related events will take place in parallel on 22 April,  including the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, hosted by the United States, and an Exponential Climate Action Summit on Financing the Race to Zero emissions.

22 April is also International Mother Earth Day, as proclaimed by the United Nations in 2009. In a statement to mark the Day, UN Secretary