Earth Optimism Nairobi 2020

In 2020, the #EarthOptimism movement has gained momentum. Through sharing and learning from conservation wins, it has given us the inspiration and information we need to succeed in the long term.

Now, in this unprecedented and difficult time, we need optimism more than ever—to uplift us, inspire us, and help us imagine a new path forward. The #EarthOptimism movement continues to bring people together to talk about what’s working to protect the future of our planet. Although we are no longer able to hold physical events in April this year, global partners are working hard to find new ways to recognize and celebrate environmental successes as motivation for action.

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and the Smithsonian and partners in Beijing are hosting virtual #EarthOptimism events to mark the occasion. Many others will join the Earth Day Network’s digital gatherings in the USA, Kenya, and elsewhere. We would like to invite you to take part and join us on social media by following #EarthOptimism.

The Earth Optimism global alliance partners are still planning to put on physical events in the future – featuring talks by conservation experts, popular figures and youth leaders, panel discussions, hands-on advice sessions, and film festivals – as soon as is practically possible. Details will be posted on individual Earth Optimism websites, which you can find here.

While we are all immensely disappointed that we cannot come together in person this year, we look forward to connecting digitally and re-grouping in 2021. Together we will focus on the positive as a reminder of our responsibility and ability to help bring about nature’s recovery.

Signed by:

Nancy Knowlton, Ruth Stolk, Andrea Santy, Smithsonian Conservation Commons, Washington, DC, USA.

Andrew Balmford, Rosie Trevelyan, Mike Rands, Cambridge Conservation Initiative, Cambridge, UK.

Olivia Adhiambo and Anthony Kuria, Tropical Biology Association, Nairobi, Kenya.

Fernanda Gomes, Agnieska Latawiec and IIS team, Instituto Internacional Para Sustentabilidade, Rio, Brazil.

Chen Feng, Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing, China.

Vanessa Adams, Justine O’Brien, and Belinda Fairbrother, Society for Conservation Biology Oceania and Taronga Conservation Society, Sydney, Australia