As the world marks the 55th Earth Day, humanity is facing tough challenges to survive due to the worsening state of the planet Earth caused by unsustainable human activities.
Across the globe, communities are working together to find solutions to the worsening environment year after year. Yet, their food security, incomes, and health continue to be threatened by climate change, as they possess the fewest resources to cope with its impacts. Pollution prevention and biodiversity loss add to the dire situation.
The investment available for environmental protection is not enough to change the current state of the Earth; people need to change their attitudes and become more aware of the impact of their actions on the environment. Restoring the environment calls for living in harmony with nature, renewing commitments to invest in clean energy, reducing the production and consumption of new products, preventing pollution, and embracing sustainable, regenerative environment practices.
The Humana People to People Movement shares a collective commitment to protect the planet, build communities and support people by connecting them with others in transformative programmes, unleashing their potential for positive change and action.
Today, we share examples of sustainable climate actions from some of our Global North and South members as part of our effort to protect the planet.
In Angola, the Green Viana - Women and Youth Constructing a Greener Future Project mobilises and trains groups of women and 10,000 youths to enhance the environment by recycling second-hand clothes, transforming waste material into new objects, removing waste in public spaces, producing and selling efficient charcoal stoves, and planting trees. The project prioritises awareness-raising initiatives and environmental education in the targeted areas involved in the project.
In Laos, the transformative Clean Cooking and School Gardens Boulapha Project is making a remarkable impact in the fight against severe household air pollution, which affects over 90% of households and contributes to more than 4,000 premature deaths each year. The project raises awareness of climate change adaptation, focusing on sustainable natural resource management. Families are trained to use smokeless, Clean Cooking Biomass Gasifiers (CCBG) that are environmentally friendly.
In Lithuania, Humana People to People Baltic, for the past 29 years, has made remarkable strides in reducing carbon emissions by preventing clothing from being sent to incinerators. This effort minimises waste, conserves precious resources, and provides affordable clothing options to communities around the globe. Operating one of Europe's largest textile sorting centres powered by a 1000 kW solar energy system, Humana People to People Baltic sorts 50 million kilograms of used clothing annually. In 2023 alone, Humana People to People Baltic’s efforts saved 31,400 tonnes of clothing from going to waste, saving an estimated 200,000 tonnes of CO2.
Despite environmental challenges, restoring the planet is achievable. It only requires actions that inspire hope and empower communities to build resilience against the impacts of climate change. Humana People to People recognises the significance of collective action in the fight to restore the planet’s ecosystem by collaborating with partners and governments to enhance sustainable practices that protect the Earth.
