Earth Day 2026

About Earth Day

Earth Day is the planet's largest environmental observance, uniting more than a billion people across some 190 countries every April 22. It is a day for cleaning up parks and beaches, planting trees, attending climate rallies, and — most importantly — making personal commitments to live a little lighter on the Earth. Schools, businesses, nonprofits, and governments all take part.

The observance began in the United States in 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide 'teach-in' after an oil spill in Santa Barbara shocked the public. Around twenty million Americans — roughly one in ten at the time — filled streets and campuses, and the movement helped spur the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and landmark laws like the Clean Air Act. By 1990 the celebration had gone global, and the United Nations later recognized the date as International Mother Earth Day.

What makes Earth Day stand out is its sheer range. One person spends the day picking up litter with their kids, another joins a policy march, a company announces a recycling program, and a city plants a thousand trees. No single ritual owns the day — which is exactly why it has stayed relevant for more than five decades.

When is Earth Day?

History of Earth Day

Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, when Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin organized a national teach-in on the environment after witnessing the damage from an oil spill off Santa Barbara. Roughly twenty million Americans took part, filling streets, parks, and auditoriums in what became the largest single-day demonstration in US history at the time. That momentum directly contributed to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and to landmark legislation such as the Clean Air Act. In 1990 the celebration went international, reaching 141 countries, and in 2009 the United Nations designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day. Coordinated today by EARTHDAY.ORG, it remains the largest secular observance on the planet.

How to Celebrate Earth Day

• ✦ Join or organize a neighborhood cleanup at a park, beach, river, or trail
• ✦ Plant a tree, start a small garden, or swap one single-use plastic habit for a reusable one
• ✦ Attend a local Earth Day fair, film screening, or virtual climate event
• ✦ Calculate your household carbon footprint and choose one area to improve this year
• ✦ Walk, bike, or take public transit for the day and see how it feels