Southface Institute: Blog

World Environment Day has developed into a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on urgent issues affecting our planet. This year’s theme is biodiversity, which reminds us that we are intimately connected to all species on this planet. The coronavirus pandemic encourages us to appreciate all the ways that we are dependent on nature and our environment. Here are some ways you can participate this year!

Since 1970, billions of people around the world have celebrated Earth Day—that day of the year that reminds us to practice conservation and work for environmental sustainability. And every year, the impact of Earth Day compounds: More trees are planted, more petitions are signed and more communities learn how to implement eco-friendly actions and policies for future generations. But the international holiday, which is celebrated on April 22 in the U.S. and most of the world, has modest beginnings, and, in large part, it owes its creation to a single visionary.

From the Ridge and Valley to the Lower Coastal Plain and in cities and communities across our state, Georgia boasts an abundance of spaces for recreational activity. From rivers, lakes and streams, to playgrounds, parks, greenspaces, and hiking trails, the state’s great outdoors nurtures wildlife habitats and provides plentiful space for people to play.

The Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable convenes on the first Friday of each month to discuss the region’s current environmental issues – from water to energy, urban planning to government policy, and much more. Members of the audience are encouraged to ask questions, make comments, network, and learn about Atlanta’s current and future opportunities for sustainable development.