Against the backdrop of a growing environmental movement ignited by the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, the first ever Earth Day was held on 22 April 1970 in the United States of America. 47 years later, a United Nations resolution declared 22 April as International Mother Earth Day, with it being first celebrated in 2010. Four years later, the Paris Agreement was signed on 22 April 2016. With the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (from 2021 to 2030) focuses on the “revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature.”
The theme for 2023’s Earth Day is ‘Investing in Our Planet’. As the official Earth Day website puts it:
When businesses Invest in Our Planet, they are aligning themselves with the modern economy, invariably leading to a more cost efficient, respected, and profitable enterprise. Companies that invest early and often are already seeing gains and are on track for prosperity in the 21st century.
So what does it mean to invest in the planet? Climate investment has grown in significance since the beginning of the decade. A McKinsey report highlights that investments in climate-related initiatives increased in 2022, a trend set to continue in 2023. With initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund, the EU Green Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act, McKinsey estimates that climate investment could reach €8.26 trillion in annual investment by the close of the decade. And what about the private sector? It’s a sector that has contributed significantly to technological innovation and global economic output, but it has also contributed to climate breakdown. For big multinational corporations, their efforts focus on setting targets to reduce carbon emissions and tree-planting exercises.
For us here at Ghazan Global, our work, partnerships and equity stakes are an integral part of our investment into a sustainable and equitable future. Our portfolio covers sustainable polymers, artificial intelligence, fintech and development, all aimed at working on present-day problems to create a better future.
With Earth Day 2023 being marked by celebrations across the globe, the occasion is an opportunity for private individuals, investors and corporations to restore, preserve and safeguard the natural environment for future generations. We fully support the principles of Earth Day, and we will continue to invest in people and planet.
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash