World’s Largest Environmental Service Campaign Sets Its Sights on Second Billion

November 2, 2012

World’s Largest Environmental Service Campaign Sets Its Sights on Second Billion Earth Day Network Channels Power of “Billion Acts of Green” into Specific Issues

WASHINGTON – The world’s largest environmental service campaign got a facelift today. After meeting its initial goal of inspiring one billion environmental actions around the world, Earth Day Network’s A Billion Acts of Green® has been revamped to take aim at specific environmental problems. “A Billion Acts of Green is a global referendum on the environment, and people have turned out in droves to vote in favor through personal action,” said Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day and chairman of the board of Earth Day Network. “Now, we’re channeling that power to specific, timely environmental issues.” For the past two years, A Billion Acts of Green® has been steadily building commitments by individuals, organizations, businesses and governments to protect the planet, inspiring and rewarding both simple individual acts and larger organizational initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability. Taken together, these seemingly small actions add up to big dividends for the planet. Earth Day Network launched the campaign in 2010, Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, with the goal of registering one billion actions in advance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – “Rio+20” – in June 2012. They exceeded that expectation by reaching one billion actions on Earth Day, April 22, 2012. Campaign organizers then showcased that achievement at Rio+20, demonstrating to world leaders the breadth of support for strong, coordinated action to tackle the most pressing environmental problems, such as climate change. “The support and enthusiasm for A Billion Acts of Green® has been tremendous over the years, so there’s no reason to stop at one billion,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “For the next billion, we’ll be directing that momentum – introducing fresh sub-campaigns periodically to both educate people and inspire targeted action. Think of it as A Billion Acts of Green 2.0.” The first set of sub-campaigns focuses on inspiring individual pledges to vote for environmentally-friendly candidates, plant trees in high-poverty areas of the world, and recycle electronic waste. People and organizations can still register all the other actions they’re taking to protect the environment through an improved online registration tool. To learn more about A Billion Acts of Green®, go to earthday.org/takeaction.

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Earth Day Network mobilizes over one billion people in 192 countries through year-round advocacy, education, public policy and consumer campaigns to protect the environment. archiveedn.wpengine.com