Earth Day Trivia Questions!

studies show that 97 percent (or more) of climate scientists who are actively publishing agree that climate change is likely due to human activity. Nearly 200 scientific organizations across the globe have issued statements that publicly endorse this view.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd. It is a global event that aims to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect the planet. This date was chosen to commemorate the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970, when millions of people gathered to protest against pollution and advocate for a sustainable future. Since then, Earth Day has become an annual event celebrated worldwide, with various activities and initiatives organized to promote environmental conservation and sustainability.

The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land, and April 22, falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, was selected as the date.

Ocean noise created by human activities puts marine species at risk and threatens their survival. In fact, increased noise levels can impact certain species like whales, who rely on the ability to communicate and hear in their natural environment to find food, mates, and avoid predators. Learn more about whales here!

More than a third of food produced globally never makes it to the table. Some of this wasted food spoils in transit, while consumers throw some of this food out. During the production, harvesting, transporting, and packaging of the wasted food, more than 3.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide is emitted.

Scientific evidence states that we’re now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the normal rate, with many extinctions happening daily.

Plastics at SEA (Sea Education Association): North Pacific Expedition 2012, a 36-day nautical research journey through the the North Pacific subtropical gyre down to the Hawaiian islands, found this to be true. The team was studying plastic pollution in the ocean and found that out of the 66,077 pieces of plastic collected in samples, 95% of it was millimeters in size. For more on their incredible journey, check out the crew’s journal log.

Learn how you can help to Protect Our Species here!

According to a roadmap created by scientists, by 2050, nearly 140 countries could run on energy created solely from wind, solar, water power. This is more than 70% of the world’s countries. Doing so could help avoid more dangerous global warming, while also preventing millions of premature deaths and generating jobs.

The electricity and heat production sector emits the largest percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions at 25%. Agriculture, forestry, and other land use sector is a close second at 24%.