Power Up for Earth Day 2025 by Embracing Renewable Energy

On 22nd April people from around the world will mark Earth Day 2025. This year’s theme is Our People, Our Planet and organisations are calling on supporters to raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy. Businesses have a key role to play in helping wean our economy off fossil fuels to secure a more sustainable future.

Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has evolved from a grassroots demonstration to an international event focusing minds on some of the greatest challenges facing our planet. As it celebrates its 55th anniversary campaigners are making an asserted effort to drive decarbonisation and meet the goal of tripling global generation of clean electricity by 2030.

Denis Hayes, the organiser of the very first Earth Day, and Board Chair Emeritus of EARTHDAY.ORG said: “For years we have been fed the lie that only fossil fuels can power the planet, that is not true. By the 2030’s, the largest source of electricity generation on the planet will be solar power.”

According to EAARTHDAY.ORG, 49 nations already generate more than half of their electricity from solar, wind, water, and geothermal resources. A report just published by the energy thinktank Ember highlights that clean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024. This was partly down to a boom in solar power capacity, which doubled in the last three years. It is hoped that Earth Day’s theme will help maintain momentum in the energy transition.

The campaign also looks beyond the need to tackle climate change to focus on how moving away from fossil fuels can have positive social impacts by providing low cost clean power to disenfranchised people around the world. 3. 8 billion people do not reach the Modern Energy Minimum (MEM), meaning their per capita electricity usage is under 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the threshold for mitigating poverty. Renewable energy can improve living standards and deliver better health outcomes by combatting air pollution.

It also offers an opportunity to build green economies. It is estimated that renewable energy could create 14 million new jobs globally. In 2023, it was worth $1.21 trillion and it is projected to grow 17.2% annually from 2024 to 2030. 

For business, embracing renewable energy brings multiple benefits. As well as supporting the drive to Net Zero, it helps reduce operating costs, improve resilience and helps secure new tenders and contracts. 

There are many ways for your businesses to show its support this Earth Day:

• Switch to a green energy tariff. Find a supplier with that offers 100% renewable electricity, often backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs).
• Start generating your own renewable power. Explore options like solar panels, ground source heat pumps, or wind turbines, depending on your business needs and location.
• Optimise energy efficiency. Conduct energy audits, monitor usage, upgrade to LED lighting and improve insulation.
• Integrate your energy plans within a holistic sustainability strategy.
• Sign the Our Power, Our Planet – Renewable Energy Petition
• Pledge an Earth Action on social media.
• Attend/plan/register a local Earth Day event and share what you are doing with all your stakeholders.

Earth Day offers an opportunity to put environmental issues at the top of the business agenda. Take the initiative and start exploring how you can better manage your impacts and start making more responsible choices. Doing so will not only improve your sustainability credentials but help secure compliance, respond to changing demand and gain competitive advantage.

At Wylde Connections, we help business transform their operations by developing robust sustainability strategies. Responsible resource management to support decarbonisation sits at the heart of that process. As your trusted partner we will support you at every stage of your journey.  To find out more about how we might help your business embed best practice please visit: www.wyldeconnections.co.uk or book a free discovery call.

For more information on Earth Day visit: www.earthday.org