Students and teachers from five colleges joined Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy Apia, Samoa, Jonathan Lee Yoo, in one of several events marking Earth Day in Samoa this year.

In a series of posts on the U.S. Embassy Facebook page, Mr. Yoo is pictured at a number of events with his staff members promoting the Earth Day 2021 theme which urges that we “Restore The Earth.”

He led tree planting at the Nelson Memorial Public Library with students and teachers from Maluafou College, Manumalo Baptist School, Seventh Day Adventist School, Faatuatua College and EducationUSA advisees from the National University of Samoa.

Mr. Yoo, along with U.S. Embassy staff, Fulbright Scholar Sefuiva Moeumu Uili, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (M.N.R.E.) and the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) celebrated Earth Day with students at the American Corner by planting trees around the library.  

The Embassy said it urged people to “consider how climate impacts everything, including human and animal health, air quality, and access freshwater." 

Mr. Yoo also joined British High Commissioner David Ward at O le Pupu Pue National Park for the World Earth Day Tree Planting Memorial in memory of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. 

“This year’s Earth Day theme is Restore the Earth. Together we can make our world a welcoming, healthy place for all people. Restore Our Earth...for everyone. We’re all in this together,” the U.S. Embassy states. 

“Nations are joining forces to cut emissions. At the Leaders Summit on Climate April 22 – 23, we’re raising global climate ambition. Yes, that’s Earth Day.” 

The event comes as U.S. President Joe Biden invited 40 world leaders to the Leaders Summit on Climate. 

Biden hosted the virtual Leaders Summit that was live-streamed for public viewing, according to a press statement from The White House.

President Biden took action his first day in office to return the United States to the Paris Agreement.  

Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would convene a leaders summit to galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.

He said nations must invest in breakthrough technologies, end fossil fuel subsidies, and help the world’s most vulnerable nations and those bearing the least responsibility for the climate crisis cope with the devastating impacts of the climate crisis.