World Earth Day 2024: Google has unveiled a special Doodle featuring breathtaking aerial imagery of natural landscapes from around the world to bring the spotlight on climate change to mark World Earth Day today. Released on Monday, April 22, the Doodle aims to draw attention to the beauty of Earth’s ecosystems and underscore the global commitment to preserving the environment.
The centrepiece of this year's Earth Day celebration on Google is a one-minute video that details the meticulous process of selecting striking nature-themed images to represent each letter in Google’s logo. These images were gathered from diverse corners of the planet, each highlighting efforts to conserve critical habitats and biodiversity.
Google Doodle For Earth Day 2024: What Does It Show?
The first ‘G’ in the Google Doodle represents the Turks and Caicos Islands, noted for their vital biodiversity and conservation projects, such as reef protection and species restoration, including efforts to save the Turks and Caicos Islands rock iguana.
The first 'O' takes us to Scorpion Reef National Park in Mexico, or Arrecife de Alacranes, the largest reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico and a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve. This marine sanctuary is crucial for protecting coral ecosystems and various endangered species of birds and turtles.
The second 'O' showcases Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland, a protected area established in 2008 around Europe’s largest glacier. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is celebrated for its unique combination of volcanic activity and glacial landscapes, which support a diverse array of flora.
For the second 'G', Google spotlights Jaú National Park in Brazil, one of the largest forest reserves in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled in the Amazon rainforest, the park is a sanctuary for numerous species including the margay, jaguar, giant otter, and the Amazonian manatee.
The letter ‘L’ is illustrated by the Great Green Wall initiative in Nigeria, an ambitious African Union project started in 2007 aimed at combating desertification across Africa. This initiative not only promotes biodiversity through reforestation but also enhances economic stability, food security, and climate resilience for local communities.
Finally, the 'E' represents Australia’s Pilbara Islands Nature Reserves. This area is part of a network of 20 nature reserves that safeguard a variety of threatened and endangered species, including multiple types of marine turtles and seabirds.
The imagery for the Doodle was provided by several esteemed organisations, including Airbus, CNES/Airbus, Copernicus, Maxar Technology, and USGS/NASA Landsat, highlighting the collaborative effort in promoting Earth Day’s message, said Google.
When Was Earth Day First Held?
World Earth Day, which first took place on April 22, 1970, has grown into a global event that draws participation from over 1 billion people across more than 193 countries annually. This year, the theme is “Planet vs. Plastics,” focusing on combating plastic pollution to protect the environment and its diverse inhabitants.