The theme of 2022 Earth Day is “Invest in our planet”.
The theme of 2022 Earth Day is “Invest in our planet”.
the story So Far: Every year, people across the world celebrate Earth Day on 22 April to show their support for the protection of the earth and environment. The programs of the day include tree plantation drives, protests, awareness sessions, competitions for children, etc. Earth Day is considered one of the largest civil celebrations in the world.
Why do we celebrate Earth Day?
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and is attributed to American politician Gaylord Nelson, who served as governor and senator during his career. In 1969, Santa Barbara in California was devastated by a massive oil spill, which served as an impetus for the senator to work towards protecting the environment.
Senator Nelson was inspired by the student anti-war movement of the time and wanted to bring his energy about pollution into the public consciousness. He partnered with Congressman Pete McCloskey, a Republican, to conduct a teaching or informal lecture on college campuses to spread awareness about the environment. Senator Nelson also enlisted Dennis Hayes, a youth activist, to conduct the lecture and chose April 22 as a weekday between spring break and final exams to maximize attendance.
Mr. Hayes realized the practice’s potential and wanted all Americans to benefit from it, and so he created a national staff of 85 people to promote it far and wide. They were soon joined by others inspired to protect the environment. Lecture Day, renamed Earth Day, attracted media attention and inspired nearly 20 million Americans to take to the streets against the impact of decades of industrial development with little care for the environment or its impact on human health. Did. Earth Day received rare support from across the political spectrum – Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders – all came together to show their support for the planet.
What was the impact of the first Earth Day?
By the late 1970s, the United States had established the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look after matters related to environmental protection. The country also passed several environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Water Act was passed by the US Congress two years later, in 1972. After this the Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973.
How did it become a global phenomenon?
Mr. Hayes was approached by environmental leaders to plan a worldwide campaign ahead of Earth Day in 1990. It was estimated that around 200 million people from more than 140 countries would participate in activities on Earth Day. It also paved the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1995, former US President Bill Clinton awarded Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his contribution towards saving the environment.
Mr. Hayes led another global campaign for Earth Day 2000 and focused it on global warming and the demand for clean energy. Nearly 5,000 environmental groups in 184 countries reach out to millions of people around the world to spread the message of environmental protection.
In 2020, the world celebrated 50th anniversary of earth day, Since most places in the world were under coronavirus lockdown at that time, the event was conducted digitally.
What is the theme of Earth Day 2022?
The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Invest in Our Planet”. The focus is on activities that foster partnerships between businesses, governments and citizens for immediate action towards environmental protection to ensure a sustainable future.