History of Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd and marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Here's a brief overview of its history:

• Inception: The idea for Earth Day was first proposed by peace activist John McConnell at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco in 1969. However, it was U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson who organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, as a national teach-in on environmental issues.

• First Celebration: The first Earth Day saw participation from approximately 20 million Americans, who took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies.

• Impact: This event led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

• Global Reach: By 1990, Earth Day had become a global event, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage.

Today, Earth Day is recognized worldwide as a day to promote environmental awareness and encourage actions to protect our planet.