Earth Day

Earth Day is a day devoted to celebrating the Earth and raising awareness about and taking action on environmental issues, such as climate change and pollution.

Earth Day is one of the most widely observed international events, with many large environmental organizations holding different events in observance of the day. It often has a different theme each year, though its core mission is the protection of the environment.

Earth Day is sometimes called International Mother Earth Day, which is the name used for the day by the United Nations (though the day precedes the UN’s involvement).

Earth Day takes place every year on April 22.

The first Earth Day was observed in the US in 1970. It was organized as a day to hold widespread protests against industrial pollution and environmental destruction with an aim of increasing environmental protections by the government, especially in areas that impact human health. It was inspired by the environmental movement of the 1970s and was in part a specific reaction to the large oil spill that occurred in waters near California in 1969. Early organizers included Senator Gaylord Nelson, Congressman Pete McCloskey, and activist Denis Hayes. It’s estimated that up to 20 million people participated in protests and other activities related to Earth Day during its first year in 1970.

The first Earth Day event and the movement it was established to represent are thought to have contributed to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency and laws like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Earth Day has since become more widely recognized and was first observed internationally in 1990. Today, the mission of Earth Day is largely focused on taking action on the climate crisis.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Earth Day?

• environment
• planet
• nature
• climate change
• climate emergency
• pollution
• biodiversity
• extinction
• protest

Earth Day is usually observed with events focused on preserving and protecting the planet in big and small ways. It’s also often a day focused on bringing wider awareness to environmental issues like climate change.

The richest 1% are responsible for double the greenhouse gas emissions of the poorest 50%.

World Earth Day is a reminder that we must tackle the inequality that has helped to create the climate emergency and continues to sustain it #EarthDay2021

— Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (@BellRibeiroAddy) April 22, 2021

🌳 Save the Date, Save the Earth! Make plans to come out and celebrate Earth Day with us! The celebration takes place April 2 at the Municipal Service Center, 7968 San Paulo Dr from 10am to 2pm. #IAmElPaso #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/oxOa0msZIl

— City of El Paso (@ElPasoTXGov) March 17, 2022

"celebrate earth day by buying these products" is so cursed

— sara li (@iamsarali) March 15, 2022

True or False?

Earth Day is always observed on April 22.