Inspire Change on Earth Day and World Environment Day with Icons, Illustrations, 3D Illustrations and Lottie animations

Every year, on April 22, Earth Day marks a momentous occasion in the history of environmental activism. The environmental movement began in 1970 due to increased concern about our world's status.

The deteriorating environment in the United States and events like the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969 created worrisome concerns for people and political leaders. As a result, Earth Day became an influential global movement that promotes environmental awareness and, encourages people to take action against the negative impacts of industrialization on our health and the planet.

Over the years, Earth Day has grown into the largest secular observance in the world, with more than a billion people participating in activities to promote and advocate policy changes and encourage a positive shift in human behavior.

Additionally, every year on June 5th, World Environment Day signifies a significant milestone in the ongoing global efforts towards environmental preservation. This annual event serves as a platform to raise awareness about environmental challenges and mobilize individuals, communities, and governments to take collective action. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution  to focus on solutions to plastic pollution.

In celebration of both Earth Day and World Environment Day, let's take a moment to spotlight design assets related to some of the problems we're up against and look at actions we can take to protect our planet. From icons to vector illustrations, 3D illustrations, and Lottie animations, let’s help us spread the message and inspire change. Together, we can make a difference and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

What are the environmental issues seen?

It’s easy to take our loving planet for granted until we face the consequences of our actions and how it affects our daily lives. We have yet to fight against these issues. Let's look at some of these issues in depth.

1. Climate change

We have undoubtedly witnessed the consequences of climate change. Climate change is a shift in weather conditions in a specific area or region, resulting in a rise in temperature, also called global warming.

Climate change is a worldwide phenomenon that offers serious difficulties to both the environment and human cultures. Extreme weather disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts have been caused by climate change, resulting in economic damage and loss of human lives. Rising sea levels and melting ice caps endanger low-lying areas and island settlements.

2. Deforestation

Deforestation is a deliberate act of clearing forested land, significantly impacting ecosystems, climate, and human health. Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide and heat-trapping greenhouse gasses that human activities emit. Their destruction leads to more gasses entering the atmosphere, increasing global warming.

Approximately 17% of the Amazonian rainforest has been destroyed in the last 50 years, and this loss has recently accelerated. The destruction rose by 21% in 2020, leading to a loss equivalent to the size of Israel - which is quite alarming.

3. Plastic pollution

In the past two decades, the production of plastic waste, such as plastic bottles and bags, has doubled worldwide. Unfortunately, a significant portion of it ends up in landfills, incinerated, or released into the environment.

This plastic waste accounts for 85% of total marine waste and is the most harmful type of litter for our oceans. Plastic remnants have been found in the vital organs of aquatic species and even in the placentas of newborn babies. Failing to act could have catastrophic consequences for both the environment and human health.

And here’s a fun fact: – there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050!

4. Threats to the world’s biodiversity

Biodiversity is a term that encompasses all living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as the various ecosystems they inhabit, such as deserts, rainforests, and coral reefs.

When it comes to land, deforestation, especially in tropical forests where many animal and plant species reside, can lead to mass extinction and the loss of vital species. This can cause harm as animals travel out of their natural habitats, bringing diseases that spread to humans. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of emerging infectious diseases are caused by animals.

Depletion of biodiversity not only has an impact on the natural world and humans, resulting in less food and fewer economic and cultural benefits.

How can we protect our Earth?

Now that we know some of our ongoing environmental issues, the next step is to take action! You can do so in multiple ways, such as:

• Reduce single-use plastic consumption by bringing your own reusable bags and water bottles.
• Plant a tree or start your own garden.
• Recycle items such as clothes, paper, plastic, and cans.
• Compost organic waste such as food scraps and yard waste.
• Participate in conservation and restoration projects.
• Conserve water and energy by turning off taps and electrical appliances when not in use.
• Reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling, riding a bike, or taking public transport.
• Volunteer to clean up local beaches, streets, and other public areas.
• Educate others about the importance of protecting the environment.
• Be an advocate for the planet by making a window sign or sharing your actions on social media.

Earth Day icons, illustrations, 3D illustrations and Lottie animations

Of course, the list of issues only covers some things about Earth Day. Earth Day also celebrates everything we have been doing to help invest back into our planet.

So here are design assets for planting trees, recycling, conservation, forest restoration and more! Use them in your websites, mobile apps, social media content, posters, presentations, and physical packaging – and join the global movement to protect our planet.

Earth Day icons

Earth Day vector illustrations

Earth Day 3D illustrations

Earth Day Lottie animations

World Environment Day icons, illustrations, 3D illustrations and Lottie animations

World Environment Day encourages everyone to take part in these initiatives and embrace the power of visual communication to convey the importance of environmental stewardship. Together, let us utilize these design assets to inspire positive action, spread awareness, and foster a deep appreciation for the planet we call home.

Our assets are versatile and can be seamlessly integrated into various mediums such as websites, mobile apps, social media content, posters, presentations, and physical packaging. So, let’s give Earth a helping hand and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

World Environment Day icons

World Environment Day vector illustrations

World Environment Day 3D illustrations

World Environment Day Lottie animations

Discover more design assets

Want more design goodies? IconScout has loads of free design assets. Get access to  the whole library of millions of design assets with our paid plans.

If you're looking to improve your design skills, we have plenty of resources available on the IconScout blog and our YouTube channel.  For starters, you might want to check out our tutorial on creating your first 3D illustration in Blender or begin with an easy and steady approach by using design assets to create your own design on Canva.

Happy designing!