On this year´s Earth Day, 22th of April, people from all over the world will merge in order to demonstrate for the importance of science. This Saturday after Easter, people around the world will be forming demonstrations in the big cities to emphasize the goals of international earth day while also stressing how important science in this field is.
The occasion for this unprecedented connection between world earth day and science in one day are current political developments. After Trump´s assumption of office in January numerous scientific information regarding climate change disappeared from official governmental websites. During Trump´s election campaign he repeatedly contradicted climate change as well. The organizers of the March for Science in Germany even underline there is a worldwide trend towards a lack of freedom in science – to see for example in the Hungarian government´s treatment of their university professors.
Being faced with powerful politicians denying both climate change as well as the need to expand environment protection, the goals of the Paris Climate Congress in 2016 and energy transformation are more and more unlikely to be reached. By the this year connection between importance of science and the world earth day this confronting issue should be brought to mind. Anti-science agendas and policies have been advanced by politicians and they will harm everyone — without exception.
The best way to ensure science will influence policy in the field of environmental protection is to encourage people to appreciate and engage with science. Internalize scientific facts more than believing what politicians say will lead to an awareness towards climate change and the need to fulfill the Paris Climate Convention goals – or even over fulfill these. Quite apposite is the this year theme of world earth day: It´s time for science, not for silence.
Teresa Kampfmann
