Earth Day

Earth Day, observed annually on April 22nd, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection and mobilizing action against pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction. It was founded in 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who was inspired by the energy of the anti-war movement and a devastating 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. Working with activist Denis Hayes, Nelson organized the first Earth Day as a national teach-in on environmental issues, drawing an estimated 20 million Americans, roughly ten percent of the U.S. population at the time, into rallies, demonstrations, and cleanups. The event is credited with helping spur the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later that year and the passage of landmark legislation including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Earth Day went global in 1990, and it is now coordinated in more than 190 countries by the Earth Day Network, involving over a billion people annually in activities ranging from local park cleanups and tree plantings to policy advocacy and educational programs, making it one of the largest secular civic observances in the world.