The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day is upon us! This year the Earth Day organization has elected Climate Action as their theme.
Climate Change is something very near and dear to our hearts at Stride. Last year we launched the Stride Gives Back Program - an initiative to contribute back to organizations working to help mitigate the threat of climate change around the world.
We love nature, we love exploring the planet, and we love encouraging people to travel. Climate change threatens all of these things. However we truly believe that the solution is not to stop traveling. For it is through travel when we fully realize the extent and impact of climate change.
While we can't travel right now, we can continue to share our love of the earth and her wonders.
If you love the earth like we do, Join the Cause to Help Protect Our Planet and we’ll donate 10% of our revenue, from any trips you book through Stride for the next year, to help preserve Earth’s special places.
And join us all month long on social media channels from Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn as we #HugTheEarth!
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day began in 1970 in response to growing concern about human habits and their effect on the planet. The main founder, Gaylord Nelson started Earth Day after witnessing a devastating oil spill in San Diego in 1969.
Taking inspiration from the various student anti-war movements of the day, Nelson decided to tap in to that energy and began organizing public events to raise awareness about the environment.
One of the most powerful things about Earth Day was that it helped unite multiple groups who had been fighting somewhat singularly up to that point. Earth Day provided a way for these groups to connect behind a common goal.
April 22nd was elected as Earth Day since it fell between Spring Break and Final Exams.
In 1990, Earth Day went global - 2 million people in 141 countries mobilized and environmental issues sprang onto the world stage.
Today, Earth Day has become an important symbol in the global effort to fight climate change and other important issues.
Stride Gives Back
In 2019, we launched our Stride Gives Back Program with an inaugural focus on Climate Change.
We’ve selected 10 destinations critically impacted by climate change that should be appreciated and protected now, before they drastically change or disappear.
When you book an eligible trip* to any of these 10 destinations, we pledge to donate 10% of our net revenue to organizations that help mitigate climate change across the world.
*For the month of April 2020, we will pledge to give back 10% on all trips. But you must enroll in Stride Gives Back before April 30th!
10 Travel Destinations Critically Impacted by Climate Change
1. Antarctica
A place that immediately springs to mind during the climate change conversation is, of course, Antarctica. The White Continent as it’s also known has experienced rapidly thinning ice, which contributes to rising sea levels - something that heavily impacts many of these destinations. In December of 2019, the worst day of melting on record was reported.
2. Great Barrier Reef
Just this month it was reported that massive coral bleaching is once again affecting this stunningly beautiful reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Bleaching is caused by warming ocean waters and this year the summer temperatures were once again at record highs.
3. Easter Island
The enigmatic statues on Easter Island, off the coast of Chile have entranced travelers for decades. Unfortunately those decades may be decreasing. The island is threatened by rising sea levels which have steadily eroded the ground supporting these stone giants.
4. Venice, Italy
Venice is a particularly susceptible city when it comes to the danger of rising sea levels. The structural integrity of its buildings along the famous canals have been under scrutiny for some time.
Flooding has also been an issue in Venice, caused by an influx of cruise ships, as well as natural disasters. In November of 2019, Venice experienced its worst flood since 1966.
5. Dead Sea
This salton sea which touches both Jordan and Israel is under threat from rising temperatures which are causing increased evaporation from the Jordan River which feeds the Dead Sea. Be sure to visit soon to experience that weightlessness the Dead Sea is so known for.
6. Patagonia
Stunning Patagonia with it’s bright blue ice and glaciers is seeing a decrease in annual rainfall. This will be devastating for Patagonia’s incredible landscape and glaciers which are already receding and thinning. Be sure to visit Patagonia now to learn and take in the glaciers at the end of the world.
7. Mt. Kilimanjaro
Tanzania’s pride and joy, the imposing Mt. Kilimanjaro, which occupies the horizon of an otherwise flat landscape, is many a hiker's dream. The trek to the top takes anywhere from 5-9 days depending on which route you choose.
But regardless, once you get to the top you are treated with amazing views surrounded by glaciers. Due to global warming, Kilimanjaro glaciers that give the mountain its trademark white cap are receding. Roughly 85% of the snow has melted over the past 100 years.
8. Greenland
Iceland's neighbor, Greenland has started appearing on more and more travel lists as Iceland deals with overtourism. However Greenland is suffering from the effects of global warming in more ways than one.
The receding ice sheets that give Greenland its unique beauty are also creating problems for the wildlife. Polar bears are moving further north for feeding and the food supply itself has begun to dwindle.
9. Amazon Rainforest
Another destination frequently connected to climate change discussions, the Amazon has been an Earth Day concern almost since the beginning. Deforestation and drought in the Amazon has massively upset the delicate ecosystems of the Amazon - home to hundreds of thousands of species.
Rainfall patterns have shifted in the Amazon due to rising temperatures resulting in a fundamental change to the rainforests quintessential plantlife.
10. Rhone Valley
Climate change affects not only the natural world, but economies as well. In the beautiful and pristine Rhone Valley of France - a destination spot for wine lovers - a disturbing prediction of decreasing wine production has been made.
Wine regions become renowned for their specific terroir - the ideal growing conditions for grapes from the area. However rising temperatures are threatening the vineyards in the Rhone Valley and many winemakers are being faced with the possibility of being unable to produce enough wine to stay in business.
