Our planet is amazing, but it needs our help to survive. That’s why each year on 22 April, more than one billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet and raise awareness for growing issues like pollution, deforestation and global warming. By taking part in simple activities like picking up litter and planting trees, you can help make our planet a healthier and happier place to live.
The first Earth Day took place in 1970 when a senator from Wisconsin organised a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. Rallies took place across the country and by the end of the year, the US government had created the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1990, the global population had reached 5.3 billion and Earth Day was now an event celebrated in 140 countries around the globe.
52 years after the first Earth Day, we have made significant progress around the world. Many countries have cleaned up their air, water and land, and renewable energy sources are on the rise. But we are still facing a warming planet and rising extinction rates, so there is much more work left to be done. Working to restore our damaged ecosystems will help to combat climate change and prevent mass extinction, but it will only succeed if we all try to work together.
Find out more about the Earth Day movement on their website. You can also access a whole host of resources and watch documentaries about climate change on the National Geographic website.
