Earth Day, observed annually on April 22nd, has its origins in the growing concern over pollution during the 1960s. Author Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” and a massive oil spill off the California coast served as catalysts for action. Senator Gaylord Nelson conceived the idea of a national “teach-in” on the environment, which later became known as Earth Day.
The first Earth Day in 1970 drew widespread participation, prompting the U.S. Congress to take action. Landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act followed, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement.
Earth Day has since become a global event, motivating action in over 192 countries. In recent years, it has focused on climate change and the threat posed by plastics to our environment. This year’s theme calls for an end to single-use plastics and the development of sustainable alternatives.
