When is Earth Day Recognized Annually?

Observed annually on April 22, Earth Day is a day to celebrate the earth, and promote actions to protect it. A major focus of the day is clean-up activities, but it is also a day to promote environmental awareness. Symbols for Earth Day include trees, flowers, and the recycling symbol.

Although the first Earth Day was held in the United States, it has since expanded to 141 countries, empowering more than a billion people worldwide. It is considered the inauguration of the modern environmental movement.

It was the first day of the year to officially celebrate the environment, and it brought together people of all walks of life to advocate for environmental protection. The day was also the logical stepping stone to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal agency responsible for protecting our nation’s air, water, and natural resources.

Aside from the EPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act all followed shortly after.

The EPA was created by US President Richard Nixon, and the Clean Air Act was passed just days after Earth Day. In addition, the Endangered Species Act was enacted the following year.

For the first time, environmental issues were placed on the national agenda. Earth Day was the first of its kind, and the first nationwide environmental teach-in was held on April 22. Many college students participated in the event, and a record-setting 20 million people demonstrated for a healthy and safe environment.