Overview
- The global observance, held Wednesday, marks the 56th year under the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.”
- EarthDay.org coordinates events across roughly 190 to 193 countries, with reports of participation ranging from hundreds of millions to about one billion people.
- Communities are staging cleanups, tree planting, workshops, and rallies, including river cleanups in Kenya, monthlong events in Kyoto, and a Washington, D.C., protest urging full funding for climate programs.
- The day is not a U.S. federal holiday, but past mobilization helped lead to the EPA’s creation and laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act after the 1970 demonstrations.
- Earth Day began in 1970 after the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, drew about 20 million Americans, and chose April 22 to land between spring break and final exams to boost student turnout.