In light of the pandemic, one of the biggest environmental events in the world has been moved online, and it’s set to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with virtual film screenings, panel discussions, interactive experiences, and more.

A man wearing VR glasses in a room full of stars
Earthx2020 runs from April 16 to 26 and features an array of virtual events © EarthXR image credit at Vulcan Productions

Running from 16 to 26 April, the Earthx2020 festival will bring an array of ideologically diverse voices to the forefront of the sustainability conversation, via conferences, a film festival, youth programming, and extended reality experiences designed to address a host of urgent environmental challenges.

A collaboration between EarthX and the National Geographic Society, the festival will include an intergenerational women’s summit featuring Jane Fonda and youth activist Xiye Bastida, a packed schedule of virtual screenings of both features and short films, live-streamed conversations with filmmakers, youth leaders, and environmental activists, and 50-plus extended reality experiences – everything from underwater dives to walks with elephants.

A school of fish underwater
Extended reality experiences include a deep dive beneath the surface of the earth's oceans © EarthX

This year’s event will also shine a spotlight on youth activism, from the March for Science Youth Summit to eco-art and film competitions, a virtual hackathon, and live daily video talks connecting National Geographic Explorers with young learners around the world. There will be a special address from Tia Nelson, the daughter of Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, to commemorate the holiday’s half centennial on 22 April, and National Geographic explorers like Enric Sala and Sylvia Earle will give presentations as well.

A person in a canoe in the middle of a river - a still from the film Public Trust
The event will host more than 35 film screenings, including <em>Public Trust</em>, narrated by Robert Redford © EarthX

“Fifty years ago, the first Earth Day took place because Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin was troubled by the lack of attention being paid to environmental issues,” EarthX founder Trammell S. Crow said in a press release “Earthx2020 will pay homage to the half century of planetary advocacy that followed and leverage the power that hundreds of thousands of people coming together can bring to championing a better planet for future generations.”

For more details and to register for Earthx2020, visit EarthX.org.

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