The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 and symbolized the beginning of the modern environmental movement. With increasing awareness and concern about the global climate crisis, Earth Day continues to revitalize this movement each year and highlight the urgent action needed to reduce emissions. Fifty-one years later, this day is celebrated by more than a billion people around the world. Let's delve into the history of this day.
The first Earth Day
1970
Earth Day was created in 1970 after a disastrous oil spill in California the year before, with the intention of highlighting the importance of clean air and clean water. More than 20 million people took to the streets to demand change.
1990
For the first time, Earth Day was celebrated globally, mobilizing more than 200 million people in 141 countries to highlight the most pressing environmental issues.
2000
The first Earth Day of the new millennium focused on promoting the use of clean energy. People at this time also began to ask themselves how their actions would affect future generations. What state do we want to leave the world in for our children and grandchildren?
2021
This year, Earth Day will be celebrated virtually, but the message remains the same. How can we all commit to climate action to create a greener, cleaner, and healthier world?
Did you know?
To keep the temperature increase below 1.5°C, we will need to reduce global emissions by 45% by 2030.
How you can join the movement this year
This year's Earth Day is more important than ever as we see emissions returning to pre-pandemic levels. As the impacts of climate change on the world become more evident every day, it's vital that we don't become complacent.
This year's theme is Reclaim the Earth . We're not only recovering from the impacts of the pandemic (just think of the number of masks and gloves thrown away in a single year!), but also from the damage we've done over the past century. Participating in Earth Day is easier than ever thanks to the power of social media and how younger generations are using it to start these conversations and demand change from governments and corporations.
This year, Earth Day organizers are calling for three days of climate action, from April 20 to 22. They will begin with a climate summit packed with panels, speeches, and debates from global activists, including Greta Thunberg, and others. These will address important topics such as biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture, job creation, and green technologies. On April 22, Earth Day will be broadcast live for the second time, featuring workshops and performances, as well as panel discussions.
Did you know?
The Climate Leaders Summit will be broadcast live from April 22 to 23. More than 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will discuss what their countries can do to combat climate change.
Make every day #EarthDay
We can all work to treat every day like Earth Day with small actions . Whether it's generating less single-use waste , enjoying more plant-based meals , or being more aware of the impact the clothes we buy have and taking action .
