Did you know that Earth Day is celebrated by more than 1 billion people in over 190 countries?
It started with just over 20 million participants. And now, it has blossomed into one of the largest observances in the world.
Today, I’m sharing with you some facts and things about Earth Day that you probably didn’t know.
I’m pretty sure you’ll find them quite fascinating whether you’re an advocate or just starting the journey.
What is Earth Day?
Earth Day is a global event that we celebrate on April 22 every year.
And we celebrate it to raise awareness and promote action for environmental issues like:
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Deforestation
- Sustainability
How Did Earth Day Begin?
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.
It was organized by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues like pollution on a national scale.
He was inspired to do so after seeing the damage that resulted from a massive oil spill in California. This incident resulted in the death of thousands of dolphins, seals and birds.
Interestingly, over 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day event. This makes it one of the largest grassroots movements in U.S. history.
Notably, the success of the first Earth Day led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in that same year (1970).
If you have never heard about the EPA, it is a United States government agency. It was established to protect human health and the environment. And they do so by enforcing regulations and promoting environmental sustainability.
Why Was April 22 Chosen For Earth Day?
April 22 was chosen because it fell between spring break and final exams at the time. This was a good time for college students to participate since they were a major focus of the movement.
This day was also chosen because the weather at this time was good for outdoor events and large public gatherings.
Key Environmental Issues
Over the decades, Earth Day has focused on several key environmental issues such as:
- Climate Change
- Pollution
- Deforestation
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Waste Reduction
- Renewable Energy
- Water Conservation
- Sustainable Transportation
- Green Building and Architecture
Major Earth Day Themes
Every year, organizers choose a theme for Earth Day, and it serves as the focus message. The theme for the first Earth Day was…..(drumroll, please)…..Earth Day! Lol.
However, the themes eventually started to focus on specific issues. They usually base the theme on urgent environmental issues that need immediate public attention.
Here are some major themes over the years.
Year 2000 – Clean Energy Now
This theme helped people understand how fossil fuels contribute to climate change.
Year 2016 – Trees for the Earth
The aim was to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide….kinda like planting 1 tree for every person on the Earth.
Year 2018 – End Plastic Pollution
This theme raised awareness about how plastic straws, bags, and bottles harm ocean animals. This led to many people switching to reusable water bottles.
Year 2024 – Planet vs. Plastics
The focus was to reduce all single-use plastics like plastic utensils.
The Impact of Earth Day Over the Years
The celebration of Earth Day has resulted in several achievements and changes.
1) The US Environmental Protection Agency was established in the same year that Earth Day was first celebrated (1970).
2) Lawmakers passed the Clean Air Act in the U.S., which has reduced smog.
3) Many countries have begun phasing out plastic bags, straws and foam containers because of the awareness raised during Earth Day celebrations. Some of these countries are Kenya, France, Australia, Costa Rica and Jamaica.
4) Schools have begun recycling programs.
5) Afforestation and reforestation have occurred across several countries.
Fun Facts About Earth Day
1) Earth Day is the largest secular observance in the world, with over 1 billion people participating in over 190 countries.
2) After the First Earth Day, the U.S. Congress passed over 25 major environmental laws.
3) The first Earth Day led to the rise of the recycling movement and the concept of “reduce, reuse, recycle”.
4) In 1990, Earth Day won the first-ever global environmental award for its efforts to raise awareness and inspire worldwide action.
5) Over 40,000 organizations take part in Earth Day, like Toyota, Coca-Cola and Apple.
6) Earth Day inspired world leaders to create the Paris Agreement, an international treaty aimed at combating climate change.
7) Earth Day was inspired by the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill in California.
Impactful Earth Day Activities and Ideas
If you are looking for ideas of what you can do for Earth Day, here is a list that you can choose from.
1) Organize a community clean-up to reduce waste and keep the public space clean.
2) Plant trees to improve air quality and help combat climate change.
3) You can host a talk or workshop to help educate others about the environmental issues we are facing. Then you can share practical steps that we can take to address them.
4) Start a backyard garden.
5) Go plastic-free for a week to reduce plastic waste and raise awareness about the dangers of plastic.
6) Try a sustainable transportation mode like carpooling to help reduce carbon emissions.
7) Use social media to raise awareness about environmental issues and share tips to help people take action. #EarthDay
8) Make a useful item using something that you would normally throw away as trash.
9) Start a compost heap using fruit and vegetable scraps to limit the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills.
10) Try plogging. This is an activity where you combine jogging with picking up litter. You get exercise and you help to reduce litter.
Takeaway
I hope you found this article helpful and the points interesting.
Remember, Earth Day is not just about raising awareness, but it’s also about taking action. Over the years, we have seen that when we take action collectively, it has the power to make a difference.
I hope this article will inspire you to take action. Share it with a friend and share it on social media so more people can be aware of the importance of Earth Day.
Every small effort to protect the environment counts!
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