The History of The Earth Day

Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That’s why
each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect
the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. By taking part
in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, we’re making our world a
happier, healthier place to live.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when a United States senator
from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about
environmental issues. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S.
cities, and it worked!
Since 1970, Earth Day celebrations have grown.
Do you know…
 In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in over 140
nations participating, according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), a
nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities.
 In 2000, Earth Day focused on clean energy and involved hundreds
of millions of people in 184 countries and 5,000 environmental
groups.
 Today, the Earth Day Network collaborates with more than 17,000
partners and organizations in 174 countries . According to EDN,
more than 1 billion people are involved in Earth Day activities,
making it “the largest secular civic event in the world.”