Earth Day

Planet vs. Plastics

 2024

Earth Day History

Earth Day, first observed on April 22, 1970, is considered the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As a response to increasing environmental concerns, like the oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day to raise awareness about how to protect the environment. Nelson and activist Denis Hayes organized teach-ins on college campuses that included various groups and organizations, drawing inspiration from protest teach-ins of the era. With this massive mobilization, the U.S. developed key environmental laws, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created.

Here’s what Earth Day means to the world:

1. Origins and Initial Impact (1970): During Earth Day’s first year, 20 million people became aware of the environment, leading to significant environmental changes in the U.S., like the EPA being formed and landmark environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act passed.
2. Global Expansion (1990): Earth Day expanded globally in 1990, involving 200 million people in 141 countries. Observing this global event contributed to the momentum for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit by elevating environmental issues on a global level.

Earth Day Themes

Last 20 years themes of Earth Day are given below:

• World Earth Day 2003 Theme: Water for Life Campaign.
• Earth Day 2004 Theme: Clean Energy for a Healthy Planet. The regional Theme of 2004 was “Be the change you wish to see.”
• Theme for 2005: Healthy Environment for Children.
• Earth Day 2006 Theme: Science and Faith.
• 2007 Earth Day Theme: Be Kind to the Earth – starting from saving resources.
• Theme for 2008: Trees Please.
• 2009 Earth Day Theme: How Do You Get Around.
• Theme for Earth Day 2010: A Billion Acts of Green.
• Theme for 2011: Clear the Air.
• 2012’s Earth Day theme: Mobilize the Earth.
• Earth Day 2013 theme: The Face of Climate Change.
• Theme for Earth Day 2014: Green Cities
• Earth’s Theme for 2015: It’s Our Turn to Lead.
• 2016 Earth Day theme: “Trees for the Earth”.
• 2017 Earth Day theme: Environmental & Climate Literacy.
• 2018 Earth Day theme: End Plastic Pollution.
• Theme for 2019: Protect Our Species.
• Theme for Earth Day 2020: Climate Action.
• 2021 Theme: Restore Our Earth.
• Earth Day 2022 Theme: Invest in Our Planet.
• 2023 Theme: Invest in Our Planet.

Earth Day 2024 Theme

The theme of Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics”. This is about fighting the big problem of plastic all over the world. Earth Day organization wants to bring people from different places together. The goal is to make much less plastic, 60% less by 2040. We want a future without so much plastic. This is not just about having less trash, but it is also about keeping us and the environment healthy.