It’s April! We’re braving all the showers that promise to bring May flowers, soaking up the first warm days of Spring, and feeling a little extra love for our planet this month. Why? April is Earth Month!
What Is Earth Month?
Earth Month is observed every year in April and brings with it a range of environmentally focused-celebrations that take place across the globe! Earth Month is a time to support and amplify environmental advocacy work and encourage others to get involved in sustainability efforts themselves. The emphasis placed on environmentalism during Earth Month helps to bring awareness to the pressing need for greater adoption of earth-saving practices.
During Earth Month, environmental outreach efforts expand and reach a wider audience, bringing more people into discussions about how to preserve our planet. Earth is the only home we have, and the most impactful way to support the planet starts with bringing together all those who inhabit it!
While conversations about environmentalism, conservation and preservation efforts, sustainability, and other similar topics occur year-round, but they are amplified in April and on one day in particular—Earth Day!
What Is Earth Day?
Before we dive into what Earth Day is, let’s begin by discussing when is Earth Day 2024 so you know when to celebrate. Earth Day is an annual celebration that takes place on April 22nd every year. Mark your calendars; it’s coming up!
Now that we’ve got that covered let’s dive into what Earth Day is, how it started, why it’s important, and how to celebrate!
What Is the History of Earth Day?
The history of Earth Day goes back over 50 years, to April of 1970 when the first Earth Day celebration was observed by approximately 20 million people in the United States. The celebration, which was more akin to a protest, was initiated by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, who urged Americans to apply the fervor with which they opposed the Vietnam War to environmental protection. The first Earth Day observance turned out to be a successful environmental protest that not only paved the way for Earth Day celebrations as we know them today but also laid the foundation for the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which occurred in July of the same year and paved the way for notable environmental legislation such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, to name a few.
Since then, Earth Day has grown into a globally recognized event, celebrated in over 193 countries! The holiday provides an opportunity for communities across the world to prioritize environmental action and protection while simultaneously celebrating our planet and all the incredible things it has to offer. Earth Day celebrations around the globe help raise awareness for the necessity of continued eco-efforts to preserve our natural resources.
Why Do We Celebrate Earth Day?
You may be wondering why we celebrate Earth Day or even why Earth Day is important. The answer is quite simple: collective action raises greater awareness and can inspire lasting individual and even policy change. One of the profoundly impactful parts of Earth Day is its reach. Earth Day is celebrated across the globe, with over a billion people engaging in eco-conscious advocacy and action. That’s powerful and has the very real potential to create change. Just look at the legislation that came out of the first Earth Day celebration if you need proof! Coming together to celebrate and support the planet is crucial to its survival!
How Is Earth Day Celebrated Around the World?
The global proliferation of Earth Day celebrations is exciting! Let’s look at some of the ways the day is observed around the world!
Tokyo, Japan: Two festivals take place in Tokyo, Japan, to celebrate Earth Day. One from April 13-14 in Yoyogi Park Events Square, and one on April 20-21 at Miyashita Park. These festivals feature music, art, and sustainable vendors selling a variety of eco-friendly products.
Kassel, Germany: Kassel hosts an annual Earth Day street festival, a tradition that has been ongoing for the past 30 years. This festival brings together a range of environmental and political speakers as well as musicians, and artists, and a variety of activities for participants.
London, England: In London, an event called EarthFest is hosted the weekend preceding Earth Day. This festival takes place in Downtown London and features musical performances, environmental film screenings, speakers, and children’s activities.
How to celebrate Earth Day 2024?
Earth Day celebrations happen all across the world. There are many ways to participate in Earth Day or Earth Month activities wherever you are, either on your own or with your community. When it comes to eco-action, whether it’s an activity like a cleanup or a lifestyle change like reducing waste, consistency is far more important than perfection! We encourage everyone to set an eco-challenge for Earth Month and beyond and tackle it with your friends, kids, or other members of your community!
Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:
- Plant trees. You can participate in an organized tree-planting event or plant several in your backyard.
- Organize a cleanup. Grab some trash bags and gloves and pick up litter in your neighborhood or at a local park.
- Start Recycling. Recycling is a practice best integrated into your life year-round, but there’s no better time than Earth Month to start!
- Support sustainable brands. Earth Day is a great time to evaluate the sustainability practices of your favorite brands and send a bit of extra love to those who are committed to reducing adverse environmental impact.
- Reduce Waste. Earth Month is a great time to opt to reduce waste wherever you can. This could be as simple as bringing reusable produce bags to the store to use instead of plastic ones or swapping single-use water bottles for a reusable option.
We empower each and every one of you to take on an eco-challenge this Earth Month, Earth Day, and beyond! Together, if we all make small sustainable swaps, we can enact big change!