A brief history of Earth Day
Ear th Day is celebrated each April and draws attention to a range of issues af fecting the environment. Earth Day aims to raise awareness in the hope of inspiring change.
Earth Day is observed on April 22. According to National Geographic, the first Ear th Day was celebrated in 1970. Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired to begin a national celebration uniting the environmental movement after witnessing environmental activism in the 1960s. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day. Twenty million people par ticipated in events across the United States and strengthened support for environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Ear th Day was expanded to a global initiative in 1990 under guidance from Hayes. Nearly 200 million par ticipants in more than 140 countries now join together in the name of protecting the planet. Awareness continues to be raised each year regarding renewable energy and climate change.
One of the hallmarks of Ear th Day celebrations is the planting of trees. Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees are cut down each year across the globe. By planting a tree every Earth Day, people can make a difference. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and bolster ecosystems for wildlife. Shade trees can reduce reliance on fans and air conditioning systems.
The main message of Ear th Day 2024 is the need to commit to ending reliance on plastics, says Ear thDay. org. The goal is a 60 percent reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. Plastics are bad for the environment a growing body of research indicates they have an adverse ef fect on the major systems of the body, including immune, respirator y, digestive, and hormonal systems.
Ever yone can do their part to promote the ideals behind Ear th Day. For 54 years, millions of people have been advocating for change to benefit the planet and human and animal health, and that fight is ongoing.