The History of Earth Day

Yoora Jeong ’27

Julia Liu ’26

Every year, a billion people from 193 countries unite to dedicate a moment out of their days to celebrate Earth Day by biking to work and picking trash. What is the history behind this day, and how has it impacted us so far?  

In the 1960s, the United States faced significant challenges regarding its relationship with the environment. The timeline aligns with the Santa Barbara oil spills, the third industrial revolution, and the Vietnam War, a period characterized by agricultural challenges, industrial growth, and a peak in emissions that resulted in widespread smog across numerous American cities. Environmental regulations were not there to stop the daily infiltration of increasing pollution into towns. A noticeable decline in the quality of citizens' lives eventually led to the birth of what is now known as the first Earth Day, which occurred on April 22, 1970 (McKibben, 2020). First introduced by Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, this collective effort gained momentum and attracted millions of individuals nationwide. Citizens took to the streets wearing surgical masks and performed small acts like picking up litter and planting trees. These actions sparked protests aimed at creating a better planet. By the end of that year, the small acts led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and numerous environmental regulations.

Twenty years later, the 1990 Earth Day gained worldwide attention and was no longer limited to the U.S. The booming global effort, along with dedicated organizers like Dennis Hayes, was also due to the world's growing awareness of environmental decline. In 1990, the world witnessed pesticide plant failures in India, wildfires that devastated Yellowstone Park, the New York Garbage Disaster, and contamination from the leaked crude oil tank Exxon Valdez in Alaska (Beck, 1990). It was clear that the earth needed help and attention. The world was ready for a change in environmental initiatives. People from all walks of life expressed their concerns through protests, taking action to clean up the environment, promoting recycling, and so on. The actions here are similar to those on the first Earth Day, and the slogan was, "Think Globally, Act Locally.” However, the enormous scope of participation made this time genuinely remarkable. With 200 million individuals from 141 countries coming together, the dedication to a cleaner future was evident (Rosane, 2020). 

The next significant milestone occurred on April 22, 2010, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of this event. Earth Day has seen a steady increase in supporters and actions over the years, and 192 countries have participated in its celebration (National Geographic, 2010). However, the Earth Day network soon took Earth Day to the next level with a massive and ambitious project: the A Billion Acts of Green campaign. The campaign sought to secure commitments from a billion individuals worldwide. One could easily support its campaign by taking simple environmental actions, such as reducing pesticide use, using public transportation, planting trees, and eating locally. The extensive use of social media platforms and apps, such as Facebook, contributed to Earth Day's success and widespread impact. We achieved the objective within two years, coinciding with Earth Day, and played a crucial role in the successful outcome of the UN conference in Rio.

Just six years later, on the 46th Earth Day, the world would witness another significant milestone in Earth Day history. It would mark a historic day as leaders from 196 countries signed the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement remains one of the most significant collective agreements on international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet. Major industries responsible for a significant portion of the world's emissions have embraced zero-carbon solutions, making it one of the most significant collaborative endeavors with long-lasting effects to this day.

Lastly, returning to the present, we recently celebrated the 54th Earth Day, focusing on the theme of Planet vs. Plastics. An ambitious campaign was launched by Earth Day Org, aiming for a 60 percent reduction in plastics by 2040 (Ricker et al.,2024). The next giant leap will depend on your dedication. Engaging in activities like going on a nature walk, picking up trash, or advocating for the environment may seem insignificant in perspective to more significant causes. Still, Earth Day's extensive and inspiring history shows that these small efforts can make a difference in the long run. Those endeavors, such as the most prominent global agreements and campaigns, were only possible with citizens like yourself contributing through small acts. It is important to stay motivated and continue making small collective efforts for the environment, even when faced with the scale of more significant events. We may not always know the direct impact of these small acts or the next leap, but they will contribute to a brighter and cleaner future. 

References

Beck, Judy  "The Origins of Earth Day." Illinois Periodicals Online, Mar. 1990, lib.niu.edu.

Byrd, Deborah  "This Date in Science: Why Celebrate Earth Day on April 22?" EarthSky, 22 Apr. 2021, earthsky.org.

IISD "Earth Day Network’s 'A Billion Acts of Green' Campaign Reaches Goal." IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub, n.d. sdg.iisd.org.

McKibben, Bill. "They Wore Surgical Masks for the First Earth Day Too." The New Yorker, April 22 2020, newyorker.com.

msnbc.com, "Earth day aims for a billion acts of green" NBC News, 21 April 2011, nbcnews.com.

National Geographic. "Earth Day: The History of A Movement." National Geographic, 22 Apr. 2010, nationalgeographic.com.

Ricker, Lindesy Hanh Nguyen "Earth Day and Climate Change: Global Action and Protest Movement." World Economic Forum, Apr.

2024, weforum.org.

Rosane, Olivia "The History of Earth Day." EcoWatch, 22 Apr. 2020, ecowatch.com.

UNFCCC "The Paris Agreement." UNFCCC, no publication date, unfccc.int.

Various contributors. "Earth Day." Wikipedia, last updated 2024, en.wikipedia.org.