• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Our history archive

Our History

Documenting world history and civil rights

General

  • About
  • Cookies and your privacy
  • Privacy policy
  • Contact

Categories

  • Home
  • Colonisation
  • World History
  • Civil Rights
  • World cultures
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Popular Culture
  • Home
  • Colonisation
  • World History
  • Civil Rights
  • World cultures
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Popular Culture

What is Earth Day?

woman holding save the earth sign
Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com
Popular culture
15 April, 2022

Every year on April 22nd, millions of people worldwide celebrate Earth Day, a day dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and protecting our planet. This global event began in 1970 and has since become an essential part of our modern culture. 

Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States on April 22nd, 1970. It was founded by Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson, who was deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of our environment. He conceived the idea after witnessing a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student-led anti-war protests at that time, Nelson realised that public pressure could significantly influence political actions regarding environmental issues. As a result, Earth Day was born and has grown into a worldwide event with participation from more than 193 countries.

The importance of Earth Day cannot be overstated. It serves as a reminder to prioritise and cherish our planet’s health and resources for current and future generations. More than ever, our planet faces major challenges such as climate change, deforestation, plastic waste pollution, species extinction, and water scarcity. On Earth Day, people from around the globe unite to raise awareness about these pressing issues, seeking solutions through education and activism.




Earth Day also encourages individuals to take practical steps in their daily lives to minimise waste and reduce energy consumption. People are urged to switch to reusable bags instead of single-use plastics, utilise energy-efficient appliances in their homes or offices, recycle materials whenever possible, plant trees or engage in other environmentally friendly activities.

Various events take place on Earth Day across different countries to educate people about pressing environmental issues while promoting sustainable lifestyle practices. These range from citywide cleanups and educational workshops to tree-planting events and film screenings on environmental topics. With its growing prominence, Earth Day has also attracted the support of celebrities, politicians, and organisations dedicated to the cause.

Earth Day is an essential global event that reminds us of our responsibility to defend and protect our shared planet. Earth Day helps us become more informed about environmental issues through education and activism. It encourages us to adopt sustainable practices in our daily lives. By acknowledging and celebrating this event, we are taking a significant step toward creating a collective, conscious effort to ensure a healthy future for ourselves and future generations.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Related

You May Also Like…

Dr Carter G. Woodson, George Cleveland Hall and Alexander L. Jackson

A century of Black history commemorations: How Black History Month began and why it matters today

man in yellow sweater holding book beside woman in brown sweater

Top 10 most influential books in history

happy women s day box

International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate action for equality

Black History Month UK 2024 Reclaiming Narratives

Celebrating 31 Days of Black History




Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Sidebar

This Day In History

Events in History
On this day in 1990 Nelson Mandela, who was the leader of the movement to end South African apartheid was released from prison after 27 years.

Recent posts

Dr Carter G. Woodson, George Cleveland Hall and Alexander L. Jackson

A century of Black history commemorations: How Black History Month began and why it matters today

man in yellow sweater holding book beside woman in brown sweater

Top 10 most influential books in history

happy women s day box

International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerate action for equality

Recent posts

Black History Month UK 2024 Reclaiming Narratives

Celebrating 31 Days of Black History

Black History Month UK 2024 Reclaiming Narratives

Reclaiming Narratives: The theme of Black History Month 2024

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition: A day to reflect and educate

Trending

  • Understanding Sharia Law: Principles, practice, and global context
    Understanding Sharia Law: Principles, practice, and global context
  • McCarthyism and the Cold War: America's Second Red Scare
    McCarthyism and the Cold War: America's Second Red Scare
  • What are British values?
    What are British values?
  • Genghis Khan: The making of the Mongol Empire
    Genghis Khan: The making of the Mongol Empire
  • This John Hanson was not the first Black President of the United States
    This John Hanson was not the first Black President of the United States
  • Pancake Day: A tradition of faith and feasting
    Pancake Day: A tradition of faith and feasting
  • Women's suffrage movement in Britain
    Women's suffrage movement in Britain
  • Five countries that colonised the world
    Five countries that colonised the world
  • The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire: Six centuries of imperial power
    The rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire: Six centuries of imperial power
  • The history of South Africa: From colonisation to independence
    The history of South Africa: From colonisation to independence

Connect

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Bluesky
  • About
  • Cookies and your privacy
  • Privacy policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2026 · Our History · All Rights Reserved