What is Earth Day
When is Earth Day 2021?
"Together, we have the power to Restore Our Earth."
This year (2021), Earth Day is centred around the Restoration of Our Earth. It aims to focus on what we need to do as a community to reduce our impact on the environment and our individual roles in repairing the current Climate Crisis. Restore Our Earth, will in particular focus on looking at ways we can all adopt natural processes, green technologies, and new innovative thinking, to save our planet. After all a healthy planet is not an option but a necessity. As Solar Panel Installers, we couldn’t be more thrilled by this year’s theme, and the opportunity to showcase the impact of green technologies such as Solar Panels.
The Origins Of Earth Day
The original Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson in 1970, who was a junior senator at the time. As an environmentalist, he wanted to highlight the importance of both clean air and clean water, following the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. The Senator, inspired by student anti-war movements, wanted to infuse the energy of young students into the emerging environmental crisis. Nelson announced to the national media a teach-in on college campuses organised by Denis Hayes and co-chaired by Pete McCloskey. They choose April 22nd to increase student participation as it fell right between Spring Break and Final Exams. Around 10% of the US population, took to the streets to show their support for the environmental cause. Which at the time was an astonishing 20 million people.
As a result of the first Earth Day, President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency. This was followed by the legalisation of the National Environmental Education Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
It was only until 1990, that Earth Day became an international campaign. After Denis Hayes, once again organised another triumphant campaign. This time, 200 million people in 141 countries stepped forward to participate, and Earth Day officially went global.
Why is Earth Day So Important?
Earth Day is the only day of the year which focuses solely on the health of our planet. In 1970 Earth Day gave a voice to those becoming worried about the state of our planet. Today, Earth Day remains a significant event where these voices are heard publicly, bringing environmental concerns to the front page. It marks a day of action, and change on a worldwide scale. For example, on Earth Day 2016, the landmark Paris Agreement was signed by the US, China and 120 other countries. It’s about coming together as a community to drive change.
Earth Day is also a powerful motivator to bring communities together to help clean up litter, plant trees, discuss all things climate change and to appreciate the wonders of nature that surround us. Earth Day has a way of bringing people together in engagement and volunteerism, united by a common goal, to end climate change. As the awareness of climate change grows, so does our ambition to change it. We demand greater action for our planet.
How can you get involved in Earth Day
As with every year, thousands of events are taking place both online and in person. If you would like to find out what’s happening near you, simply check out the online map provided. There will be slight alternations to events this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, the passion and motive remains the same. You can also tune into Earth Day Live 2021, a live-streamed event that will include workshops, panel discussions and a series of guest appearances.
If you would like to find out more information about Earth Day simply visit earthday.org. So come join the cause, and let us celebrate Earth Day, and climate action together.
