Dont know much about Earth Day?
Dig into these fun facts and useful insights.
Earth Day was inspired by Vietnam war protesters.
Photo: Getty Images
The date was chosen to appeal to college students.
The date fell between spring break and final exams.
This American holiday had a strong start.
Getty Images
20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970.
Other countries know it as “International Mother Earth Day.”
That’s the name it was given by the United Nations in 2009.
Here in the states, we still call it plain old Earth Day.
The Earth Day movement drove the creation of the EPA.
Legislation on clean air, clean water, toxic substances, and endangered species was passed too.
Everyone can participate in Earth Day.
Earth Day is not the same as Equinox Day.
In 2025, spring begins on March 20.
Earth Day has its own theme song.
This global movement has inspired real change.
Each year, the Earth Day theme changes.
In 1990, the spotlight was on global mobilization of environmental issues with a strong focus on recycling.
In 2000 it was about global warming and clean energy.
10% of the 1970 U.S. population participated in the first Earth Day.
The first Earth Day began in 1970 to demand environmental change.
20 million Americans participated, which was 10% of the U.S. population at that time.
Over 3 billion students lack environmental education.
Lack of environmental education affects over 3 billion students across the globe.
Currently, over 300 million people and 400 organizations are in support of this campaign.
The first global Earth Day occurred in 1990.
Denis Hayes organized the first global Earth Day in 1990.
200 million people across 141 different countries participated in the first global Earth Day.
The Earth is estimated to be 4.54 billion years old.
The very beginning of the solar system formation was nearly 4.6 billion years ago.
Nearly 350 million pounds of ocean plastics have been collected since 1986.
TheOcean Conservancyorganization is actively working to solve the plastic pollution crisis in our ocean.
Today, nearly 200 million tons of plastics circulate in our ocean.
Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering in an ocean clean-up event.
So far, Ocean Conservancy has had over 17 million volunteers since 1986.
Earth Day has its own flag.
The Earth Day flag was created in 1970 by peace activist, John McConnell.
This flag is still seen today at Earth Day celebrations around the world.
Earth Day can last all year.
April is now considered Earth Month, giving you another 29 days to celebrate.
But consider extending it even longer.Studies have shownthat one of the best antidotes to eco-anxiety is activism.
