Earth Day explained: When did it start, why, and how do we celebrate?

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. What started in 1970 as a nationwide protest in the United States has spawned into one of the largest global movements for the environment.

But Earth Day is not just a token celebration of how to love the planet. It is a stark reminder of how environmental awareness began, why it matters, and how people continue to take action today.

The world before Earth Day

Before 1970, environmental damage was largely ignored. In fact, according to EarthDay.Org, pollution was often seen as a sign of economic growth.

Many people accepted dirty air and polluted waters as normal. There was little understanding of how pollution affected human health and ecosystems.

Then one woman helped ignite the movement.

Marine biologist and author Rachel Carson raised public awareness with her 1962 book “Silent Spring.” The New York Times best-seller exposed the dangers of chemical pesticides and their effects on wildlife and humans.

It opened with a “fable for tomorrow,” based on real communities where chemical use caused environmental damage, making the issue easier to understand, and a whole lot more real.

In her book, Carson warned that human actions were disrupting nature’s balance, explained that many man-made chemicals had no natural equivalent and could cause long-term harm, and most importantly encouraged people to question authority.

Pushing accountability from government and industry, she urged the public to ask, “Who speaks, and why?”

Her book became known as “the classic that launched the environmental movement,” helping raise awareness and inspire activism.

Unsurprisingly, Carson faced criticism from the chemical industry and defended her work until her death in 1964 but by then, her influence could already be felt in the growing public concern that eventually led to the creation of Earth Day.

The birth of Earth Day

The idea for Earth Day came from U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, after witnessing a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 that pushed him to act.

Inspired by growing student protests, he proposed a nationwide “campus teach-ins," where environmentalists and experts interact and engage with students about the environment.

He worked with Congressman Pete McCloskey and activist Denis Hayes, who helped organize events across the country.

And then on April 22, 1970 some 20 million Americans — about 10% of the U.S. population, per EarthDay.org — joined demonstrations across the country where people gathered in streets, parks, and campuses to demand environmental reform.

According to National Geographic, the date April 22 was chosen because it fell between spring break and final exams, allowing more students to participate.

But it wasn't just students. Earth Day united groups that had been working separately, bringing together people from different backgrounds to take part in what became a historic moment for environmental action.

The results were immediate: By the end of 1970, the United States created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several important laws were also passed, including the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, EarthDay.Org said.

Earth Day helped push environmental issues into national politics and public awareness.

Why Earth Day matters and how to celebrate

Earth Day is celebrated for several important reasons:

• It raises awareness about environmental issues such as pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss
• It also promotes the protection of natural resources. The goal is to preserve air, water, land, and wildlife for future generations
• Earth Day encourages action and it inspires individuals and communities to take part in protecting the environment
• It also supports the idea that all people have a right to a clean and healthy environment

Per National Geographic, the ways people celebrate Earth Day are directly connected to its purpose. For instance clean-up drives in beaches, parks, and other public spaces is directly related to reducing pollution.

Conservation efforts meanwhile like tree-planing and ecosystem restoration, are directly related to protecting nature.

Participating in recycling activities, like composting and avoiding single-use plastics, point to waste reduction, while actions around energy, like reducing energy use and supporting renewable energy, support the flight against climate change.

Earth Day around the world

Since 1970, Earth Day has grown into a global movement, with over 1 billion people participating during its 50th anniversary in 2020.

In the Philippines, an organization called Earth Day Network Philippines was established in 2006, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, business partners, various churches, and civil society organizations to promote the celebration of Earth Day in the country. — LA, GMA News