April 22nd is Earth Day! Every year millions of people around the globe come together to celebrate Earth Day, a day dedicated to honoring and protecting the planet. Growing up, I remember various events we would do in school, like plantings trees or learning about the environment. Earth Day hasn’t always existed and this week I’d like to take a look back at the roots of Earth Day and how it has shaped the environmental movement over the last five decades. The idea for Earth Day was born in the United States during a time of political activism and cultural change. In the late 1960s, Americans were becoming increasingly aware of the serious environmental damage caused by industrialization, pollution, and deforestation. Events like the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and growing air and water pollution fueled public concern. Earth day actually was started because of a Wisconsin Senator. Senator Gaylord Nelson who had an interest and passion for the environment, wanted to bring environmental issues into the national spotlight. Inspired by the energy of student anti-war protests, Nelson proposed a day of environmental “teach-ins” on college campuses across the U.S. He hired Denis Hayes, a young activist, to coordinate the event, and they chose April 22 as the date, strategically placing it between spring break and final exams to maximize student participation. On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was held. It brought together over 20 million Americans. Students, teachers, activists, and everyday citizens participated in rallies, clean-ups, and educational events. The success of Earth Day in the U.S. led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of key legislation like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. In 1990, Earth Day went global, gathering over 200 million people in many countries across the world. That year helped bring environmental issues to the world stage and paved the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. In the 2000s, with technology starting to rapidly evolve, Earth Day entered the digital age. The internet became a powerful tool for organizing events, spreading awareness, and uniting people worldwide. Focus began to shift more toward climate change, renewable energy, and global cooperation. By the 50th anniversary in 2020, Earth Day had become the largest secular observance in the world, with more than 1 billion people participating in activities ranging from tree planting and cleanups to virtual climate strikes. Today, Earth Day continues to evolve. Themes in recent years have included: Restore Our Earth (2021), Invest in Our Planet (2022 & 2023), Planet vs. Plastics (2024) and this year the theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”. Each year brings fresh urgency as global challenges like climate change, pollution, and habitat loss intensify. It reminds us that protecting our planet is a shared responsibility, and every choice we make can have an impact. Whether it’s through volunteering, reducing waste, educating others, or advocating for policy change, Earth Day inspires people of all ages to work toward a healthier, more sustainable world.
Information for this article was gathered from, https://www.earthday.org/history/.For more information contact Kayla Littleton, Forest County Land Conservation and Land Information Director at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at .