Earth Day 2023: Save the Planet with Technology and Community

As we celebrate Earth Day, we recognize that science and technology have played a significant role in revealing concerns the planet has been facing.

Immediate action was needed more than half a century ago. The first implication that something was wrong occurred in 1938 when Guy Callendar, an amateur scientist, collected data from weather stations and discovered global temperatures had risen over the previous 50 years. Interest flared then but didn't peak until Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring," was published in 1962. Carson wrote about the effects of using pesticides on the natural world. Her prolific book catalyzed the U.S. environmental movement, leading to the first Earth Day in 1970. 

I came across this book recently in my home library. It was part of the required reading in my Environmental Studies master's program because of its lasting impact on the environmental movement. I also came across a picture I drew as a child. It's a crude drawing of a tree (as seen below) with the urgent message, "Save the trees!" As a passionate environmental advocate, I laughed when I saw it, realizing there was never another path for me, even as a child. When people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I remember thinking, "I want to save the planet." I thought it was simple — everyone cares about the planet, right?

I received a strong dose of reality in school when I learned it's not as easy as it sounds, and to my dismay, not everyone cares about the future of our planet. There is no wave of a magic wand, no simple answer, and no one size fits all solution to saving the earth from climate change and environmental disasters. Humankind is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including severe weather, warming temperatures, declining biodiversity, and rising sea levels. My hopes of saving the planet seem farther and farther away whenever I wake up and read about another environmental disaster or species going extinct. However, there is always hope. I firmly believe in the line from the iconic Jurassic Park movie, "Life, uh…finds a way," said Dr. Malcolm (played by Jeff Goldblum). As humans, we must find a way to mitigate climate change together. 

The Power of Technology and Community

It wasn't until this year that I realized I could save the planet because of the power I've found in the community. The ability to save the world doesn't reside in me alone but all of us. Earth Day is a reminder of how powerful it is to have a community – that evolved from a U.S. demonstration to a global movement active in 190+ countries. 

In the last 53 years, Earth Day has evolved from a warning to urgency and a call for mitigation through innovation. Innovative solutions come from collaboration; as women in tech, we have the knowledge and power to impact our planet. There is a place for women in climate technology to help alleviate climate change with innovative technology. 

Corporate Responsibility

Climate technology has received much attention, with companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft implementing sustainable initiatives. Corporations are responsible for adapting their business activities to reduce the effect of climate change. Many companies recognize the need for sustainable business practices but fail to implement them in their corporation, especially without the government incentivizing climate technology through policies and laws. 

As technologists and a community, we can make an impact by: 

• Advocating for more environmentally responsible practices within our workplace. 

• Create innovative tech to solve one of the planet's biggest threats. 

• Gather a roundtable of fellow technologists to brainstorm solutions. 

• Host a hackathon to work on a climate tech project.