Earth Day is a worldwide celebration of our planet. It raises awareness about the environment and encourages conservation and long-term planning.
Earth Day
Every year on April 22, around 1 billion people in over 190 countries take action to raise awareness of the climate problem and encourage behavioral change to safeguard the environment. The 50th anniversary of Earth Day will be observed in 2020.
Small home or school initiatives may all be part of Earth Day celebrations, such as growing a herb garden or clearing up rubbish. People also volunteer to plant trees, participate in other ecological initiatives, and participate in climate change public rallies.
Official Earth Day campaigns and programs strive to raise environmental knowledge and bring like-minded people or organizations together to solve concerns like deforestation, biodiversity loss, and other difficulties.
Where It All Started
On April 22, 1970, millions of people marched through the streets of US cities and towns to protest the damage being done to the world and its resources.
During the protests, demonstrators shut down New York City's ordinarily busy Fifth Avenue, and students in Boston staged a "die-in" at Logan Airport.
At the time, the postwar consumer boom's environmental impact was felt. Oil spills, manufacturing pollution, chemical spills, and other ecological concerns were rising, with few laws in place to protect the environment.
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A Simple Protest
The demonstrations brought together individuals from all walks of life in the United States - around 10% of the population - to demonstrate and voice their desires for long-term change. It is referred to be the "dawn of the contemporary environmental movement" on the Earth Day website.
The teach-ins were organized by Nelson, Congressman Pete McCloskey, and activist Denis Hayes. Still, the group quickly realized that there was a potential to expand the event's appeal beyond student communities.
Around 20 million Americans across the age and political spectrums, vocations, and socioeconomic groups participated in the newly renamed Earth Day protests, which received national media attention and support.
The Earth Day protests had a lasting impact on US policy. The US Environmental Protection Agency was established at the end of 1970, and a series of laws were passed to assist safeguard the environment. The Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the National Environmental Education Act were among them.
More laws to safeguard water quality, endangered species, and the use of dangerous chemicals and pesticides were quickly introduced.
In 1990, Earth Day expanded outside the United States. Two hundred million people from 141 nations came together that year to promote recycling worldwide, preparing the stage for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
Recognized by the UN
The UN Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Commission on Sustainable Development to monitor and report on the implementation of the Earth Summit accords were formed as a result of this "Earth Summit."
Denis Hayes and the Earth Day organization switched their attention to the rising realities of the oncoming climate disaster as the millennium approached, warning world leaders that immediate action is required to address global warming.
It's a message that still rings true today. According to the latest study from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, unless more rapid action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the globe will warm by 3.2°C above pre-industrial levels. This degree of warming would destroy the world and all life on it, including humans.
Going Global
Earth Day has grown into a worldwide movement, increasing awareness of environmental concerns and giving a platform for individuals to become active in the battle against climate change. It might be the difference between life and death for us.
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