April 22, 2022: Happy Earth Day!

Follow the movement’s 52-year-old history and learn how to #InvestInOurPlanet.

By Pierina D’Amico

On January 28, 1969, a well blew out in the coast of Santa Barbara, California, United States. It spewed over three million gallons of oil, killing more than 10,000 animals. At the time, it was the largest oil spill off the country’s coast in history.

Winsconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson happened to be flying over it as it spread into the ocean. Seeing the disaster from a plane window, he decided it was time to raise awareness about environmental issues on a nationwide scale.

Together with activist Denis Hayes, he coordinated the first “Earth Day” on April 22, 1970. Originally, it was supposed to be about environmental teach-ins on college campuses, which is why the date was chosen around students’ schedules. However, Hayes realized the movement could be bigger and targeted the country as a whole.

And it worked. Around 20 million people poured into the streets to support the cause. Over the years, this prompted the passing of various environmental laws in the country and increased citizen engagement in planet-friendly activities.

In 1980, Canada joined, and in 1990, the movement went global. With 200 million people mobilizing in 141 countries, it was clear the world was becoming aware that we needed to take better care of our planet.

This international success paved the way for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare April 22 as “International Mother Earth Day” in 2009. Through Resolution A/RES/63/278, the organization expressed its conviction “that in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth.”

In one of the movement’s greatest achievements, the Paris Agreement was opened for signature on April 22, 2016. This international treaty, which covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance, was signed by 195 countries and ratified by 193. Notably, the agreement articulates the commitment of nations to limit global temperature rise to less than 2 °C over pre-industrial levels.

On its 50th anniversary in 2020, Earth Day found itself amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Far from letting the virus stop them, organizers pivoted from in-person to digital activism in what was called the largest online mass mobilization in history, gathering tens of millions of people in 2 days.

This year, Earth Day’s theme is #InvestInOurPlanet. If you want to be part of the movement, you can try: