Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 that celebrates the planet Earth and raises public awareness about environmental issues. There are rallies, conferences, school projects and other activities on the day.
Earth Day was started by Sen. Nelson. The event helped increase public support for the creation of the EPA. Many environmental laws have been passed because of Earth Day.
Susan Clayton, a professor of psychology and environmental studies at The College of Wooster in Ohio, told Live Science that Earth Day reminds people to think about their values, the threats the planet faces and ways to help protect the environment.
The history of environmental activism and the way individuals have worked together to change policy can make us more optimistic about the ability to make positive changes in the future.
Friday, April 22 will be the day of Earth Day. The 52nd anniversary of Earth Day will be marked by various events around the world.
According to EARTHDAY.ORG, a nonprofit that coordinates these events, the theme of Earth Day is "Invest In Our Planet" and is meant to encourage businesses, governments and citizens to act now on climate change and other issues.
Climate change and other environmental issues are still threatening the health of the planet despite the fact that there have been more than 50 Earth days. Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Penn State and author of The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet, notes Earth Day is an opportunity to take stock of where we stand in the battle to live.
Mann told Live Science that we are not yet on the path to stabilizing the warming of our planet below dangerous levels. Every day should be Earth Day. Without a planet, we have nothing.
Why celebrate Earth Day? There are many reasons.
Nelson started Earth Day in 1969 after seeing the environmental damage from an oil spill. He organized a national teach-in on college campuses that focused on educating the public about the environment, according to EARTHDAY.ORG.
Nelson persuaded Pete McCloskey of California to be co-chairman. According to a 2012 post on the United Nations Foundation, they were able to rally 20 million people across the U.S. on April 22, 1970, with the help of a staff of 85.
The team chose April 22, a Wednesday, because they thought a weekday falling between Spring break and students exam finals would encourage the highest number of students to participate. Many people gathered in public areas to talk about the environment and find ways to defend the planet after the event gained national media attention. About 10% of the US population participated.
Nelson wrote in the EPA Journal that on that day Americans made it clear that they understood and were concerned about the degradation of our environment.
The event grew in popularity after 1970. 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day in 1990.
The Earth Day Doodle celebrates extreme animal life.
Earth Day is celebrated to raise public awareness about the environment and mark the anniversary of the first Earth Day. Environmental issues continue decades later. The fight for a clean environment is becoming more urgent to address environmental issues.
Fossil fuels emit heat-trapping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that raise global temperatures and disrupt weather patterns. Extreme weather events such as massive floods and intense wildfires are caused by climate change. Thousands of scientists warned that ignoring climate change will cause untold suffering.
Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, told Live Science in 2020 that they need to fight climate change harder.
The Clean Water Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act were enacted in the 1970s because of the first Earth Day.
The impact of Earth Day has gone beyond the U.S. The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted by the United Nations on Earth Day 2016 in order to keep global warming below 2 C compared to pre-industrial levels.
Despite the Paris Climate Agreement pledges, climate change is far from being solved. The UN Secretary-General said at the Economist Summit that the 1.5 degree goal is on life support and with emissions continuing to increase.
Earth Day activities include projects and campaigns to promote, protect or restore the environment. NASA and other organizations have online quizzes for people to test their environmental knowledge on Earth Day. Children in the U.S. celebrate Earth Day by making crafts and drawings.
Nathaniel Weston, an associate professor of environmental science at the University of Pennsylvania, previously told Live Science that there are two ways to celebrate Earth Day. The second is to commit yourself to service on or around Earth Day, planting some trees, cleaning up a stream or helping your local community garden.
Dramatic political action is needed to address climate change. Live Science previously reported that the UN's latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that rapid, deep and immediate cuts are needed to stop a climate disaster. Earth Day activities like planting a tree or buying eco-friendly products won't stop global temperature rises and climate breakdown.
Mann suggests talking about the climate crisis on the day. Discuss with your friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else who will listen to the need for policy action, and for voting in politicians who will support climate-friendly policies.
You can learn more about the events taking place on April 22 on the EARTHDAY.ORG website. Suggestions on Earth Day activities, project resources, and ideas for teachers can be found on the EPA website. The Man from Clear Lake: Earth Day Founder Senator Gaylord Nelson is available to buy at Amazon.
The Earth Day quiz is from theConservation International.
Earth Day is on the 22nd of April every year.
The history of Earth Day can be found at EARTHDAY.ORG.
What the First Earth Day Achieved was published by State of the Planet.
Satellites over Europe track massive floods in Germany and Belgium.
Why celebrate Earth Day? April 22, 2020 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
April 23, 2012 is the History of Earth Day.
The Earth Day quiz was updated on March 23, 2022.
Earth Day 70: What It Meant was published in the EPA Journal in April of 1980.
A panel of 14,000 scientists warns that ignoring climate change will lead tountold suffering.
Why Earth Day is more important than ever was reported by the United Nations Environment Programme.
The UN has a 1.5 degree goal on life support.
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