Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual observance promoting environmental protection, first held in the United States on April 22, 1970.

Gaylord Nelson: Gaylord Nelson was a U.S. senator from Wisconsin and an early organizer of the first Earth Day. His proposal for a nationwide environmental teach-in set the 1970 observance in motion.
Environmental education: Environmental education develops knowledge and skills for understanding environmental systems and addressing environmental problems. Teach-ins and educational events were central to the original Earth Day format.
Environmental Protection Agency: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a federal agency established in 1970 to protect human health and the environment. Its creation followed the surge of environmental concern surrounding the first Earth Day.
World Environment Day: World Environment Day is a United Nations observance held annually on June 5 to promote environmental awareness and action. Unlike Earth Day’s April date and U.S. origins, it began as a United Nations observance.
Denis Hayes: Denis Hayes is an American environmentalist who coordinated the first Earth Day in 1970. He turned Nelson’s proposal into a coordinated national event.
Civic engagement: Civic engagement is participation in public life and efforts to influence decisions affecting a community. Earth Day channels concern into community events, public debate, and political participation.
Clean Air Act: The Clean Air Act is U.S. federal legislation that regulates air emissions and establishes national air-quality standards. The environmental mobilization of the early 1970s formed part of the context for stronger air laws.
Arbor Day: Arbor Day is an observance devoted to planting and caring for trees. Its focus on trees is narrower than Earth Day’s broad environmental agenda.
Earth Day 1970: Earth Day 1970 was a nationwide U.S. environmental demonstration held on April 22. The first observance brought millions of participants into public environmental action.
Environmental activism: Environmental activism is organized action intended to protect the natural environment or change environmental policy. Earth Day is a recurring occasion for activism across local and national campaigns.

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