Okay, that was cheesy. And I know if you searched for when’s Earth Day, you just want the date. So I’ll start there and then jump to a quick Q&A.
Date
April 22
Q&A
What is Earth Day anyway?
Earth Day is an annual event that raises awareness about environmental issues and highlights the importance of environmental protection. If desired, it can be celebrated as Earth Week, with events taking place during the entire week leading up to the actual day.
How did Earth Day come to be?
Environmental concerns began to enter the public discourse in the 1960s, gaining even more traction with a fire on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland (inspiring many years later the rather tasty Burning River Pale Ale) and a large oil spill near Santa Barbara, California.
Moved by such occurrences, Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin proposed a nationwide event to take place on April 22, 1970, in order to boost knowledge regarding the adverse effects of environmental pollution. With the help of activist Denis Hayes, that event became the first Earth Day, a multi-city protest involving more than 20 million people.
In 1990, Earth Day went from a largely American phenomenon to a global event.
Why April 22?
Spring (in the northern hemisphere) seemed like a natural choice. With regards to the particular date, Earth Day was initially envisioned as a teach-in on college campuses, and April 22 was chosen so as to not conflict with spring break or final exams and thus optimize participation. Obviously, the actual event far exceeded the initial vision.
Where is Earth Day celebrated now?
On Earth—that was a (lame) joke. According to Wikipedia, over 193 countries get in on the action. Given that there are 197 countries (including Palestine, Vatican City, Taiwan, and Kosovo), that’s basically everywhere. In fact, with over one billion participants, Earth Day is recognized by some as the largest secular observance in the world.
How are Earth Day activities coordinated throughout the world?
A nonprofit organization called EARTHDAY.ORG, in conjunction with many partners, plays a large role in the global coordination of Earth Day and multiple other projects that are thought to have a positive impact on the environment.
What other things are associated with Earth Day?
The same momentum that resulted in the establishment of Earth Day also gave rise to the Environmental Protection Agency (1970) and important environmental legislation such as the Endangered Species Act (1973) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (1976).
What does the Paris Agreement have to do with all of this?
The Paris Agreement—also called the Paris Climate Accords—is an international treaty regarding climate change that was negotiated by over 190 entities as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015 near Paris. The goal of the agreement is to limit the mean global temperature increase by 2100 to less than two—and preferably one and a half—degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
As a symbolic gesture, many parties signed the agreement on Earth Day in 2016. (The US withdrew from the agreement in 2020 but rejoined in 2021.)
Does Earth Day have a theme?
Yes, each year has a specific theme. For example, in 2022, the theme is Invest In Our Planet, a reminder that economic prosperity and environmental preservation don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
How can I celebrate Earth Day?
All sorts of ways. You can walk or ride a bike (rather than drive), skip the shower (body odor permitting), plant a tree, donate time to a worthy organization, donate money to a worthy organization, and so on.
Do people exchange gifts and greeting cards for Earth Day?
Probably not. Printing a bunch of cards that could end up in landfills would be antithetical to the spirit of Earth Day.
Is there opposition to Earth Day?
It seems like people find a reason to condemn everything, and Earth Day is no exception. Reasons range from feeling that environmental issues are overblown to believing that the environment actually deserves even more attention. April 22 also happens to be Vladimir Lenin’s birthday, leading to conspiracy theories among the conspiracy-theory types. Finally, generalized mistrust of nonprofit organizations might be in the mix. With regards to this last objection, here is EARTHDAY.ORG’s 2020 tax return—you’re unlikely to find anything very interesting.
What’s a good song to get me in the spirit?
Here’s one option. While Radiohead’s frontman, Thom Yorke, can get a bit abstract with his lyrics, we’re pretty sure this jam is at least partly about climate change. It’s also somewhere between uplifting and depressing, thereby capturing the tone that surrounds discussions about the future of Earth.
As a company, ComposeMD is not into proselytizing. So if you’re not feeling Earth Day, no pressure. Just say some words like sustainable, renewable, and ecofriendly, and then jump on board whenever you’re ready.
