Earth Day was created in 1970. The idea originated with U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson, who proposed a nationwide environmental teach-in, with April 22 chosen as the date and the event quickly growing into a global movement. The first Earth Day saw widespread participation and helped spur environmental policy in the United States, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The date has since become an annual observance worldwide, now coordinated by EarthDay.org and celebrated in many countries. For context, some sources trace earlier global proposer ideas by John McConnell, who suggested a “global Earth Day” on March 21, 1970, though the April 22 date became the best-known and widely adopted version in the U.S. and beyond. The United Nations later recognized the broader concept with International Mother Earth Day on April 22 in 2009, reflecting the ongoing global adoption of the day. For a quick overview and current activities, EarthDay.org’s site is a good starting point.[1][3][4][8][9]
Siskiyou National Forest in California; detail of a DOCUMERICA image. (National Archives ID 542848) The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. Recognized by many as the birth of the U.S. environmental movement, the nationwide demonstration spurred a dramatic rise in public concern about environmental issues.
www.archives.govVisit the official Earth Day site to learn about the world's largest environmental movement and what you can do to make every day Earth Day.
www.earthday.orgAcknowledging 55 years, EARTHDAY.ORG highlights global impact, renewable energy goals, climate education advocacy, and actions like cleanups and tree planting.
www.earthday.orgCelebrate Earth Day with these tips for helping our environment.
kids.nationalgeographic.comWhat do the campaigners behind Earth Day want to achieve and how did the decades-old event come about? Sky News looks at why and how the day is marked.
news.sky.comGaylord Nelson, the late U.S. senator and governor of Wisconsin, is considered the founder of Earth Day, which started in 1970.
www.cbsnews.comWhat do the campaigners behind Earth Day want to achieve and how did the decades-old event come about? Sky News looks at why and how the day is marked.
news.sky.comThe worldwide event aims to raise awareness about the need to protect the environment.
www.bbc.comThe General Assembly designated 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through a resolution adopted in 2009, but the roots of the Day go back to the 1970s.
www.un.org