International Year of Planet Earth (2008)
To raise awareness of the value of Earth sciences in advancing sustainable development, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth. The lead organization was chosen to be UNESCO. The three years of 2006–2009 were covered under the Year's activities.
Activities during the International Year of Planet Earth took place from 2007 to 2009. Numerous of these events were conferences, seminars, or workshops that were geared for scholars, lawmakers, business executives, and students. Public events including exhibitions and other events were also held. To raise awareness of the occasion, several nations, such as the Czech Republic, Netherlands Antilles, Portugal, and New Zealand, issued stamps, while other nations, such as Australia and Switzerland, produced coins.
Background
2008 was designated as the International Year of Planet Earth by the UN General Assembly in 2005. This project was undertaken by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Other international and scientific organizations collaborated with them to promote the year.
The International Year of Planet Earth has a wide range of objectives, but the event concentrated on three theoretical concerns. The first topic examined the problems facing the earth and is titled "Population Growth and Climate Change." The second topic, "earth resources," looked at whether certain elements of the local ecosystem posed hazards or benefits. The third topic was "geohazards" and methods for raising awareness while lowering dangers to people, property, and the environment.
Objectives
The Year sought to gather $20 million from business and government, of which half was to be used to co-fund research and the other half for "outreach" initiatives. It was meant to be the largest-ever global campaign to advance Earth sciences.
The primary target groups for the Year's larger messaging, aside from researchers who were anticipated to gain from the Year's Science Programme, were:
- Politicians and decision-makers should be better informed on the applications of Earth science to sustainable development.
- To explain to the voting public how Earth science knowledge may help create a better society.
- Geoscientists, to assist them in using their understanding of numerous facets of the Earth for the benefit of the inhabitants of the entire planet.
Themes
Themes for the year's research included:
- Groundwater: reservoir for a thirsty planet?
- Hazards: minimizing risk, maximizing awareness
- Earth and Health: building a safer environment
- Climate change: the ‘stone tape’
- Resource Issues: towards sustainable use
- Megacities: going deeper, building safer
- Deep Earth: from crust to core
- Ocean: abyss of time
- Soil: Earth’s living skin
- Earth and Life: origins of diversity
Symbols
The emblem for the International Year of Planet Earth is composed of three parts. A crimson ring in the center represents the planet's innards and the riches found there. One-third of a dark blue ring and one-third of a green ring each half encircle the red ring. These show the resources that are available on land (green), in the sea, and in other bodies of water on the surface of the world (dark blue). Half of a light blue ring surrounds the entire image in part. This is a representation of the resources found in the atmosphere that envelops our planet. Next to the logo are the words "planetearth®" and "Earth Sciences for Society."
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