Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. It was created to raise awareness, appreciation, and inspiration to protect our planet. The day is still known widely as the largest single-day protest in human history. 

How did Earth Day Start?

A US junior senator, Gaylord Nelson, had long been concerned about the state of the environment in the United States. He was inspired by many student movements, including the anti-war movement that was occurring at the time, and wanted to generate the same energy and movement to raise the public’s climate-related consciousness. He founded the idea of campus teach-ins and enlisted the help of Denis Hayes, a young activist, to help him scale and mobilize this project. They chose April 22 to have their first teach-in. Hayes saw this movement’s potential and enlisted help, creating a national staff of 85 people to promote this event across the U.S. They changed the name to Earth Day, which gained national attention. Bringing 20 million Americans to the streets to demonstrate the impacts of the industrial developments the country and planet have endured. 

Earth Day goes Global

The movement grew in the next decade following the original Earth Day event. As did environmental legislation in the U.S.

This includes the Endangered Species Act, Toxics Substances Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Clean Air and Water Act, and many more. 

Also, during the 1980s, Earth Day’s international reach exploded. As the 1990s approached, Hayes organized a massive campaign for our planet again, to the point where Earth Day went global, with over 200 million people in 141 countries taking a stand for environmental issues. 

In the 2000s, with the help of the internet, Earth Day continued to grow, connecting grassroots activists and activists around the world for Earth Days to come. In 2010, for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, nearly 1 billion people around the globe took action. 

In 2016, the Paris Agreement was signed on Earth Day. A day dedicated to protecting the planet was selected to sign this historic and significant climate accord. 

As of 2020, the movement continues to grow, with countless activities and activations globally to celebrate this day! 

Earth Day 2024: 60 X 40

PLANET VS. PLASTIC

This year, Earth Day is focused on plastics. It is committed to ending plastics for human and planetary health by demanding a 60% reduction of all plastics by 2040.

Global Earth Day Events 2024

Educate yourself on plastics 

Take the plastic pollution quiz 

Sign the global plastics treaty !

Attend a clean-up

Reject fast fashion 

Join the movement (online or in person)

Follow this link to find an interactive map of an Earth Day event near you! 

What are you doing this Earth Day?