On This 50th Earth Day, We Are Using the Internet to Change the World Thumbnail
Growing the Internet 22 April 2020

On This 50th Earth Day, We Are Using the Internet to Change the World

By Dan YorkSenior Advisor

50 years ago when the first Earth Day happened, the networks that would later form the Internet were only beginning.

20 years later, when Earth Day 1990 turned the celebration into a global event, the World-Wide Web existed only as a single website in Switzerland.

Today, the Internet is our lifeline. In a world locked down by coronavirus, the Internet is how we connect. It is how we communicate, collaborate, and create together. It is how we work and how we play. And on this Earth Day 2020, we will use the Internet to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

Each and every day, we are using the Internet to respond to climate change and other environmental issues:

  • Scientists are collaborating and sharing their knowledge. They are finding new solutions and creating new programs.
  • Projects are crowdsourcing vast amounts of data from regular people around the world (ex. Earth Challenge 2020)
  • We are sharing ideas and learning from each other.
  • Policy makers are learning what works in other regions.
  • We are avoiding unnecessary travel and reducing our carbon footprint.
  • Activists are joining in global movements.
  • We are seeing that what affects someone in one part of the world may affect us all.

This open, globally-connected network of networks empowers us to work for change. The Internet enables us to confront global challenges, whether those are viruses or a changing climate.

These many benefits do, of course, have costs. The Internet’s networks need electricity to operate. The data centers used by many services offered on the Internet can use huge amounts of power and water. All our many devices are leaving a long trail of discarded “e-waste”. These are challenges we all must confront.

We also face the reality that on this day, 49% of the world will not be able to join in the online celebrations. They are not able to work at home during this coronavirus crisis. They do not have the Internet access that most of us take for granted. The many opportunities of the Internet are not shared evenly – we must grow the Internet and connect the unconnected.

If we are to solve the many global challenges before us, we must tap into the creativity and ingenuity of people around the world. Everywhere. We must connect, communicate, and collaborate. We must share our ideas and innovations. We must learn from each other and help each other.

Now, more than ever, we must ensure that the Internet of opportunity is available to everyone.

We are stronger together. And through working together, we will find new ways to change the world.

Happy Earth Day!


Image credit: NASA Image Library

Disclaimer: Viewpoints expressed in this post are those of the author and may or may not reflect official Internet Society positions.

Related Posts

Internet Exchange Points 7 October 2024

Internet Exchange Points in Argentina: Network Infrastructure Improves the Balance of Trade

Internet Exchange Points (IXPS) have become vital assets in Argentina, where they ensure that data travels seamlessly, efficiently, and...

Growing the Internet 20 August 2024

Amplifying Impact: Empowering the Next Generation of Computer Networkers

Our computer networking course teaches learners around the world skills that promote employment, bring connectivity to communities, and make...

Growing the Internet 9 August 2024

What is Indigenous Connectivity? And Why Should We All Care?

We are committed to helping Indigenous communities around the world bridge the digital divide and connect to the Internet.