Most of the following article is taken from the website earthday.org, but this essay is about more than the annual Earth Day. Unless every day from now on becomes earth day, i.e. unless governments and citizens do what is necessary to save the planet, the earth will not be habitable by the end of this century, according to many scientists.

Before summarizing the urgent message of the above website, however, I’m going to cite a prolific author and a heroic scientist who echo the same message in their most recent books.

Margaret Atwood, the renowned author of fiction, has a couple essays relevant to saving the planet in her recently published book “Burning Questions.” In an essay about Rachel Carson’s three books about the earth’s oceans, Atwood writes, “The oceans are the living heart and lungs of our planet. Without healthy oceans, we land-dwelling, air-breathing primates will die. If Carson were alive today, she would be the first to be underlining the dangers of human ocean-killing, by oil, plastic, pesticides, and rampant industrial overfishing.” Atwood further praises Carson by calling her a “pivotal” figure of the 20th century because of her most important book “Silent Spring,” published in 1962. “We human beings owe her (Carson) a vast debt.”

We also owe a vast debt to Margaret Atwood, I contend. Atwood condemns the fact that “We are now living in a new era of science denial and a refusal to face facts.”

In her fifth book, also published this year, “The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times,” renowned scientist Jane Goodall gives reasons for not losing hope in our future, but she cautions, “If young people succumb to the doom and gloom – if they lose hope – that’s the end.” The success of her efforts in generating hope among the youth of the world can be seen through the Jane Goodall Institute, where over 100,000 young people are currently working to save the environment of the planet. Jane Goodall is a realist about human nature. When asked if she believed humans tended more toward good or evil, she responded that they have equal capacity for both.

“The environment we create will determine what prevails. In other words, what we nurture and encourage wins.”

One more must-read is the cover article in the April issue of Connecticut Magazine. David Holohan’s “The State of Our Environment” covers our water, our air, conservation, climate change, and activism, i.e “what citizens and nonprofits are doing to make a difference” in our state.

The Earth Day 2022 theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” The future of humanity is on the line.

Ninety-nine percent of scientists agree that climate change is happening and that humans are the primary cause. Climate change is compounding the effects of other already-existing detrimental human activities like overfishing and deforestation.

A U.N. report published in 2019 ranked the top five direct drivers of the disappearance of species. Climate change was third, behind changes in land and sea use and overexploitation of organisms (all human-caused).

Our great grandchildren — who are currently on track to inherit a world four degrees warmer than ours and feel its effects at every stage of their life — will have to clean up the mess our generation made in their fight for survival. They’ll grow up in a world with more air pollution, more vector-borne diseases, and more extreme weather events to deal with.

“This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihood,” according to the website. Furthermore, “We need to act (boldly), innovate (broadly), and implement (equitably). It’s going to take all of us.  Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet.”

And while there is still time to solve the climate crisis, time to choose BOTH a prosperous and sustainable future, and time to restore nature and build a healthy planet for our children and their children, time is short..

Smart companies are discovering that it is no longer a choice between going green and growing long-term profits — sustainability is the path to prosperity. So, for both humanitarian and business reasons, it is imperative that companies of all sizes take action and embrace the benefits of a green economy. Tell business leaders to get on board with a sustainable future or get out of the way

When it comes to climate change, money talks. Through regulations, incentives, and public/private partnerships, governments hold the keys to transform and build the green economy. Similar to the industrial and information revolutions, governments must incentivize their citizens, businesses, and institutions to build a resilient future. Ultimately, governments will empower green business practices as not only the ethical option but also the lucrative one. Tell your government leaders to launch the sustainability revolution today.

As individuals, we have the simple yet effective power to make our voices heard through our choices, our civic actions, and our personal interactions. What each of us does, and how we do it, has a huge ripple effect on our ecosystems, and on the pace of corporate and government action.

Generation Z is providing inspiration, with 45% having stopped purchasing certain brands because of ethical or sustainability concerns. We have the power to lobby for and support businesses that take active steps to protect our environment through their practices and climate-friendly investments, and fight against those that don’t.

For us, every day is Earth Day.

If you feel the same, there are 52 actions and tips to make a difference, every day of the year. Go to earthday.org

Jim Izzo is a retired teacher living in Mystic.