ADRA Marks Earth Day by Inspiring Global Action

Story by Iris Argueta

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is spearheading a global movement to inspire communities to #GoGreenWithADRA in honor of Earth Day (April 22). This effort aims to promote environmental stewardship, raise awareness of global environmental concerns, and instill a sense of responsibility in students and individuals from all backgrounds to contribute to a more sustainable planet.

Communities in the U.S., and worldwide are invited to participate in the #GoGreenWithADRA movement by engaging in activities, such as environmental cleanups, gardening, and tree planting. By sharing their projects on social media using the designated hashtag, individuals can contribute to a collective effort towards ecological preservation and sustainability.

ADRA’s global humanitarian offices have witnessed firsthand how extreme weather disasters, deforestation, droughts, and wildfires have displaced and disrupted countless lives across the world.

“In the face of an increasingly volatile climate, the world faces unprecedented challenges to anticipate and respond to the impact of climate volatility,” says ADRA’s Vice President for Humanitarian Affairs  Imad Madanat. “Through our wide global network of country offices, ADRA is well positioned to implement projects with communities in the most vulnerable areas, building resilience and the capacity of communities to withstand the effects of natural catastrophes. On Earth Day, we renew our commitment to both the people we serve, our planet, and creation. Our projects seek to equip the most at-risk populations to prepare and mitigate against unanticipated disasters while simultaneously protecting the environment.”

This year’s Earth Day theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” draws attention to the urgent need to address plastic pollution, which poses significant threats to marine life, groundwater, soil health, and human well-being. In response, ADRA has pioneered innovative solutions to repurpose plastic waste, utilizing recycled plastic bottles to construct essential infrastructure for vulnerable communities. Notably, in Mauritania, ADRA reused 34,000 plastic bottles to build a health center and homes for marginalized groups, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable development.

Furthermore, ADRA is leading the charge in implementing environmentally conscious projects worldwide, including initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture in the Democratic Republic of Congo, promoting backyard vegetable gardens and organic farming in Fiji, establishing greenhouses in drought-prone regions of El Salvador, facilitating reforestation efforts in Madagascar, and introducing drought-resistant crops in communities facing food insecurity in Honduras and Kenya.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the EcoAct pilot project are also collaborating with ADRA offices in Canada and Germany to create the Humanitarian Carbon Calculator.  The study aids ADRA in determining the greenhouse gas emissions from projects across the globe, advancing the organization’s objective to safeguard the environment and the communities it serves.

To learn more about  ADRA’s climate resilience programs and access resources to support environmental initiatives, visit ADRA.org/gogreenwithadra.