(France 24).- On Earth Day, celebrated every April 22, US President Joe Biden described the climate crisis as “an existential threat” and warned of the damage caused by natural disasters and extreme conditions in the recent years, estimated at 270 billion dollars.
For this reason, it also announced an investment package of 7 billion dollars aimed at promoting solar energy. A bet that takes place when several countries on the continent continue to face the effects of the climate crisis.
America commemorated Earth Day this Monday, April 22, with a combination of activities to promote environmental conservation, confront the challenges of climate change and promote public awareness about the importance of protecting the planet.
This year’s day was marked by the measures taken in response to the critical situation due to droughts and fires in nations such as Chile and Colombia and the rains in others, such as Brazil and Bolivia, so far this year.
Forest fires and drought in the region
The climate crisis is felt in several parts of the Latin American region. And countries like Colombia or Ecuador have it well in mind. In the Colombian capital, Bogotá, interruptions in the water supply are a fact. The rationing occurs as a consequence of the low levels recorded in several reservoirs that supply water and energy to the capital and its neighboring towns.
And although in the last two days the rains have occurred in different regions of the country, the mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, assured that “the situation is still critical.”
And partly as a result of this, the Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, had to declare an energy emergency: Ecuador imports a significant amount of energy from neighboring Colombia. In addition, the country’s energy system has had to stop three hydroelectric plants that are fed by the Mazar reservoir, now at critical levels due to the drought.
Much of Central America is also suffering the effects of drought.
Honduras has been affected by forest fires and droughts, so stopping climate change and increasing the resilience of communities has become a priority objective.
The director of the Forest Conservation Institute, Luis Edgardo Soliz, warned of the devastating impacts of climate change in Honduras and called on developed countries to compensate poorer nations for the damage caused by their carbon emissions.
In El Salvador, the Human Rights Attorney, Raquel Caballero de Guevara, urged the Government to implement concrete measures to prevent environmental damage, especially in areas such as Lake Coatepeque, which was recently declared in an emergency situation due to pollution and other environmental problems. The official highlighted the importance of moving from reactive to preventive actions to protect ecosystems.
Also in Costa Rica, Earth Day was marked by high temperatures and a lack of rain, both circumstances attributed to the El Niño phenomenon.
The Central American country faces challenges in electricity generation and water management, which has led authorities to call on the population to prevent forest fires.
High temperatures have also affected Panama, high temperatures and the increase in night temperatures have become an increasingly evident problem, exacerbated by the climate crisis.
The El Niño event in the second half of 2024 is expected to bring more rain, which could alleviate the situation, but also carry risks such as flooding and landslides.
US announces million-dollar investment in solar energy
This Earth Day, during a ceremony in Prince William National Park, near Washington DC, the president of the United States, Joe Biden, described climate change as “an existential threat” and warned of the damage caused by natural disasters and extreme conditions in recent years, estimated at 270 billion dollars.
The new program announced by Biden, called “Solar for All”, will be implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will provide grants of up to $60,000 to government entities and nonprofit organizations for the development of solar energy solutions .
It is expected that about 90 thousand homes can benefit from this program, whose objective is to significantly reduce energy costs for low-income families.
Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed the program, highlighting its potential to reduce energy costs and create good-paying jobs. Sanders noted that while solar energy can reduce up to 80% of household electricity spending, the initial investment can be prohibitive for many families.
In addition to the solar initiative, Biden announced the launch of the “America Climate Corps,” a government program that will employ thousands of young people to address climate change.
Inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, this new corps will be tasked with installing solar panels, fighting forest fires and building more energy-efficient homes. Corps members will receive training, apprenticeships and access to climate change-related jobs after completing their service.
Earth Day, an annual celebration held on April 22 in many countries around the world, was established to raise awareness about the environmental issues facing our planet and promote the protection and conservation of the environment.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and has since grown in importance to the point of becoming a global event with activities ranging from cleanups of natural areas to environmental education campaigns and conservation efforts.
