5 reasons why Earth Day was started:

1. To unite those that care about the planet and wildlife

In the years and decades leading up to the first Earth Day in April of 1970, Americans were living in conditions detrimental to their personal wellbeing and that of the planet. There was little consequence for companies and organizations contributing to this environmental crisis.

After witnessing a massive oil spill in California in 1969, US Senator Gaylord Nelson was driven to do something. He was inspired    by the student anti-war movement to mobilize against environmental destruction. As a response to these unacceptable conditions, the first Earth Day was a protest to demand a better future for us and the generations to come. It started on the ground with  limited numbers of people whom organized and rallied behind an important cause.

2. To hold policy makers accountable for their actions

The current situation at the time was dire and needed action, which inarguably resonated with the masses because on April 22, 1970, 20 million people in America (10% of the population at the time,) took to the streets in protest. Just months after the protest, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in the US, which would go on to regulate threats to the environment such as auto emissions, Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane(DDT), toxic waste, plastic pollution and much more.

On this day half a century ago, 20 million people demanded change. Which goes to show that so much can be accomplished when humanity comes together and joins forces peacefully. This event is credited as the beginning of a wave of environmental action.

It was the force behind the passage of many landmark laws in the US including the “Clean Air Act” and the “Clean Water Act,” as well as animal protections laws such as the “Endangered Species Act” and the “Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act” which protects whales, dolphins, seals and manatees.

3. To start a movement

The modern environmental movement that followed is thanks to this organization of Earth Day. In 1990, Earth Day went global and mobilized over 200 million people in 141 countries, and today is recognized as the world’s largest civic event. In 1992, Rio de Janerio, Brazil hosted the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.

This was the third Earth Summit, a meeting of world leaders every 10 years which began in 1972. It was here that many countries agreed to begin working together to address climate change, and achieved an agreement on the Climate Change Convention, which led to the Kyoto Protocol that same year, and eventually the Paris Agreement.

4. To ensure the future of our planet is a priority

Following the USA’s lead of policy creation in response to the movement, many countries soon followed suit. Symbolically, the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 as the day the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change was signed. Today, 187 countries are still formally committed to the agreement, though progress on commitments has been slow.

5. To give YOU a platform

Throughout the years there have been many change-makers in the fight for climate action and the environment. Some are prominent, outspoken leaders and others are quieter grass-roots organizations and individuals and every one is vital.

While the work doesn’t begin and end in April, Earth Month is a reminder that we must all stand and do our part. Let's look at the last 50 years of activism to fuel and empower our momentum, inspire us to join forces across borders and remember that we can and must do more.

For more information on the effects and impacts of Earth month, visit Treadright.org