10 Surprising Facts about Earth Day

Did you know that as of Earth Day 2024 more than 8 billion people inhabit Earth?

The first recognition of Earth Day took place in April, 1970, and was organized by United States citizens hoping to bring awareness to our environment and the need to take care of our home, “Mother” Earth. Since 1970, recognition of the holiday has expanded to more than 190 countries who have added Earth Day to their calendar. https://time.com/6968732/earth-day-surprising-facts/

The annual celebration of Earth Day, which occurs on Tuesday, April 22, is a serious reminder that humans have been tasked with caring for the long-term welfare of the planet. It is also a time to celebrate all that Earth provides for us, and to recognize that small changes in everyone’s habits can prolong the healthy existence of our home planet.

The 2025 Earth Day theme is : “Our Power, Our Planet.”

Here are 10 surprising facts about Earth Day:

1. Earth Day was created by a senator

Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin, was concerned about several disasters that had occured. He recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to help bring the idea to the public

2. The idea for Earth Day came after a series of environmental catastrophes

Several events drew attention to the environment, including the release of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962 and the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire.

3. More than 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day

Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue had to be shut down, as people demonstrated and participated in street clean-ups.

4. Earth Day is on April 22 because of college schedules

The organizers were hoping to attract college students to the Earth Day celebration and April 22 fell on a weekday during the school year—between spring break and final exams.

5. The Environmental Protection Agency was created after the first Earth Day

The EPA, which regulates protections for the environment, was created on Dec. 2, 1970 in direct response to the first Earth Day. Congress formed the agency after witnessing the huge participation in Earth Day demonstrations across the country.

6. Earth Day went global in 1990

Millions of people participated in the first Earth Day, which led to important environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act in the U.S. later that year. According to earthday.org, Earth Day was supported by Republicans and Democrats equally. The movement went global in 1990, as more than 200 million people in 141 countries joined the cause.

7. The Paris Agreement opened for signature on Earth Day

The Paris Agreement, the most significant international climate accord in history, was opened for signature on Earth Day in 2016. The treaty has more than 190 signatories, all of whom agreed to reduce carbon emissions and carry out other actions to reduce climate change.

8. United Automobile Workers union played a role in making Earth Day possible

The former head of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union was one of the biggest contributors to the original Earth Day, donating $2,000 in 1970 (the equivalent of more than $15,500 today).

9. Organizers tried to have the biggest Earth Day cleanup event in history in 2024

In 2024, earthday.org worked with Malaysian organizations to host the largest cleanup in Earth Day history. They planned to plant 1 million trees.

10. Tens of millions of trees have been planted on Earth Day

Deforestation leads to the loss of approximately 18 million acres of forest every year. In response, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization founded the Canopy Project in 2010 and claims it has since planted tens of millions of trees around the world.

(All facts from Time Magazine)

You may wish to read some books about Earth Day:

Silent spring