Our Earth and its ability to support life is a miracle we take for granted. In a vast and hostile universe, we are blessed with the only planet that has everything needed to support and sustain life, which is why we feel Earth Day is significant to observe.
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is an annual event held on the 22nd of April to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was originally initiated by the US Senator and Environmentalist Gaylord Nelson in 1969 following a terrible oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
Senator Nelson chose the date to promote activities that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural world while motivating us to care for our planet and work for a better future for everyone on it.
A major cause for concern
Although the Earth is naturally sustainable, humans have been pretty bad caretakers of the blue gem of the solar system. Here are some facts that raise concerns about why we need to create awareness and act now:
- There is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere now than ever in history. While carbon dioxide is suitable for plants, it is poisonous in high amounts.
- 71% of 504 extreme weather events over the last 20 years were found to be made more likely or more severe by human-caused climate change.
- Arctic sea ice is diminishing at 12.6 percent per decade, increasing flooding incidents in the coming years.
- The above statistics can be tied to rapid deforestation, with an estimated 10 million hectares of rainforest lost annually, and 3.9 million of those are in Africa.
The implications of deforestation
Logging and burning trees stops the intake of CO₂ and releases it back into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming. Deforestation remains a global crisis threatening all living species. Reports show that in the last 40 years, wildlife has plummeted by more than half, triggering a sixth mass extinction.
Deforestation also has implications for humans and the longevity of our planet:
- 17% of global greenhouse emissions come from deforestation.
- Trees absorb 33% of the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels.
- 80% of all land-dwelling species rely on forests for their survival.
- Forests provide 75% of the world's accessible freshwater.
- 1.6 billion people rely directly or indirectly on forests for food, water, fuel, and jobs.
From the data above, preserving our forests is crucial for the survival of our planet and those who reside in it.
How Cloudpresenter and Tree-Nation are working hard to preserve our planet
At Cloudpresenter, we realise that our actions today will directly affect climate change; hence, cutting carbon emissions, protecting natural habitats, and carefully managing the forests and oceans are crucial.
One of the significant reasons we strive to offer top-tier webinar and video conferencing services to businesses is that we want to help organisations reduce their carbon footprint. We contribute to our planets well-being by providing a reliable communication platform that reduces unnecessary transportation, runs on sustainable technology, and assists organisations in reducing their carbon footprint by delivering successful and sustainable communication strategies.
Ocean conservation and reforestation are two of the big subjects closest to our hearts. We actively support the amazing work being done by Ocean Climate and The Nature Conservancy, and we have partnered with Tree-Nation, a global platform dedicated to reforestation efforts. Their innovative model allows organisations and individuals to contribute to a greener future by supporting tree-planting projects across the globe to combat carbon emissions.
Thanks to our partnership with Tree-Nation, we have planted 403 trees to offset carbon emissions, and our ‘One Customer, One Tree’ initiative means we plant a tree for every new Cloudpresenter user. This approach has made us one of the leading voices promoting eco-friendly digital communications solutions while contributing to global reforestation efforts alongside Tree-Nation.
How our technology contributes towards the global reduction of carbon emissions
A big part of carbon emissions results directly from business travel and all forms of transportation-related activities. However, when video communication and digital collaboration platforms like Cloudpresenter are used as part of a sustainable communication strategy, travel can be reduced, whilst increasing engagement at work. At Cloudpresenter, our platform enables thousands of people worldwide to meet, collaborate, and work together helping to promote a cleaner, healthier planet today and for the future.
Collaborating for a greener future
Sustainability is a collective effort, and part of Cloudpresenter's collaborative initiative is partnerships with sustainability-focused organisations. We are Stripe Climate Partners, contributing 1% of all of our profits to the most promising carbon removal projects and technologies around the world. Cloudpresenter is also a proud member of MUSE (Members United For Sustainable Events).
By embracing these collaborations, we aim to co-create solutions, share best practices and contribute to the global drive for reducing carbon emissions.
Let’s celebrate Earth Day together so that we can pave the way towards a more sustainable and interconnected future for generations to come.
References: Weiss, S; Reynolds, R & Escobar-Tello, M.P. (2023, August 17). 10 Facts That Prove The World is a Climate Emergency. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/climate-change-facts/
Encyclopedic Entry. (2024, April 14). Earth Day. National Geographic. Org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/earth-day/
The World Counts. (2024, April 14). Rate of Deforestation. The World Counts. https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/forests-and-deserts/rate-of-deforestation
Sources: unep-wcmc.org, carbonbrief.org, museusa.org
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