What Day is Earth Day?

Thousands of people around the world are encouraged to turn off their lights and participate in other Earth Day activities. These events promote awareness and education about environmental issues.

One million species of animals are threatened with extinction. This is a very big problem. In order to protect them, Earth Day encourages people to use eco-friendly products, recycle, and compost.

Earth Day was first observed in the United States in 1970. It was inspired by a large oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. The spill killed thousands of animals, and it triggered environmentalists to take action.

In addition to addressing environmental issues, the first Earth Day led to the passage of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. It also encouraged the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to protect human health and the environment.

Earth Day has become a global event, celebrated in 193 nations worldwide. In 2016, more than 1 billion people around the world participated in Earth Day activities. In 2022, the theme of Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet.” The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report in August that describes the rise of global temperatures as a “code red” for humanity. It also warns that global temperatures will rise above 2 degrees Celsius this century.

Earth Day was born of the environmental movement of the 1970s. Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin) was one of the early leaders of this movement. He wanted to use the energy of the student anti-war movement to promote environmental education. He wanted to organize a nationwide teach-in on college campuses to raise awareness about environmental issues.