Our power, our planet: Acting together for Earth's future

April 22 is International Mother Earth Day. The 2026 theme, "Our Power, Our Planet," underscores the urgency of collective action as the Earth's natural systems face mounting strain.

The United Nations notes that extreme heat, wildfires, and floods are affecting millions while ecosystems that sustain life continue to degrade. According to the UN, about 10 million hectares of forest are lost each year, and roughly one million species face extinction.

In the United States, powerful storms brought snow, floods, and widespread travel disruption. Meanwhile, persistent drought is raising wildfire and water risks.

In Brazil, torrential rains triggered floods and landslides, displacing communities.

Intense rainfall in Pakistan and East Africa has caused casualties and infrastructure damage, and Nepal reported hundreds of disaster-related deaths over the past year.

Sea surface temperatures remain near record highs, and scientists warn that emerging signals could point to a stronger El Nino cycle, amplifying global climate volatility.

Glaciers in New Zealand are still retreating despite short-term stabilization, and projections suggest Germany could lose its glaciers within decades. Biodiversity loss is accelerating, with species such as the emperor penguin and Antarctic fur seal newly listed as endangered. Climate change, ecosystem degradation and species decline are increasingly intertwined.

Against this backdrop, China's ecological restoration and green transition offer a contrasting trajectory. Its domestic Earth Day theme – cherish natural resources and safeguard a beautiful China – reflects an approach that integrates conservation with development.

China's forest coverage has exceeded 24%, with forest and grass coverage surpassing 56%, and more than 8 million hectares of land were newly greened in 2025 alone. The Three-North Shelterbelt Program continues to advance efforts to control desertification and has received international recognition.

In Minqin, on the edge of the Tengger Desert in northwest China's Gansu Province, coordinated efforts by volunteers and local communities are helping expand green barriers against encroaching sands.

China's total wetland area has reached 834 million mu (about 55.6 million hectares), supported by more than 1,000 restoration projects covering about 4.34 million mu (about 290,000 hectares).

Biodiversity recovery is visible: the Yangtze finless porpoise has rebounded to around 1,400 individuals, and the Tibetan antelope now exceeds 300,000, restoring once-rare migratory scenes.

A newly adopted ecological environment code strengthens legal safeguards. Meanwhile, AI-based forecasting, remote sensing, and digital platforms are improving environmental governance.

"This marks a shift from a rigid 'one-size-fits-all' approach to more scientific and people-oriented governance," said Xu Jiliang, dean and professor at the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University.

China's Fengyun meteorological satellites now provide services to more than 150 countries, contributing to global public goods.

Furthermore, as one international expert observes, China's sustained policy efforts are forming a demonstrative model, while revised reserve regulations aim to achieve "a balance between ecological conservation, livelihood improvement and green development," according to Xu.

International Mother Earth Day 2026 arrives with a clear message: risks are intensifying, but solutions are emerging. Turning shared awareness into coordinated action will determine whether "our power" can secure the planet's future.