Earth Day: History, Date, Activities, Quotes, Slogan and Facts

Laelia Yang January 08, 2022 | 09:59

If you love environmental protection, take action on Earth Day 2022. Let's explore the history, facts, activities, and more about Earth Day.

Earth Day 2022: History, Date, Activities, Quotes, Slogan and Facts

Earth Day is about raising awareness about the importance of protecting our planet and taking action. The first Earth Day came about after a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, saw the devastating impact of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Not willing to sit on the sidelines anymore, Senator Nelson organized a national “teach-in” to educate and inspire people to protect the environment.

Earth Day has been celebrated around the world since 1970 by people from all walks of life who are concerned about preserving the environment.

What is Earth Day?

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 with events worldwide in support of the environment and to raise awareness for the environmental protection and care of our planet.

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, is considered to be the birthday of the modern environmental protection movement. It is said that nowadays more than one billion people worldwide take part in activities on Earth Day, making it the world's most widely observed secular (non-religious) holiday.

In many communities, the Earth Day celebrations are part of Earth Week, an entire week of activities.

In 1969 peace activist John McConnell proposed to hold a day in honor of the Earth on the day of the spring equinox (around March 21, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere). The UN adopted this idea and since 1970 celebrates equinox Earth Day every year on the day of the March equinox with the ringing of the Japanese Peace Bell. At about the same time, US Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic politician famous for his environmental work, proposed to hold a teach-in about environmental issues on April 22, which developed into Earth Day. While initially only held in the United States, the idea was taken globally in 1990 by the Earth Day Network, and Earth Day is now celebrated globally every year on April 22.

History of Earth Day

Photo: brookhavencourier

The idea for Earth Day was originally born in 1969, when a US Senator named Gaylord Nelson, witnessed the effects of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA. He called to action all Americans to take a stand for the environment in 1970, and thousands of colleges and universities across the United States organized protests for a healthy, sustainable Earth. This included air pollution from factories and freeways, as well as the loss of habitats for animals and animal extinction. Because of these national rallies, the first Earth Day helped create the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts into law.

Today, we have similar concerns, and unfortunately, they are even messier than that original oil spill. Increasing natural disasters, extreme weather, and rising global temperatures may seem impossible for one human, let alone millions or even billions of humans, to slow down, or stop. It has been reported that coral reefs are dying, we see pictures of animals on land and in the ocean with trash in their bellies or around their body, and corporate factories and large companies around the world continue to pollute our air and our living spaces. But a small action, like picking up litter on the sidewalk that may have otherwise ended up around the neck of an animal or in the ocean, still makes an impact — a step in the right direction, and an important change.

When is Earth Day 2022?

Earth Day 2022 is on Friday, April 22, 2022. Whilst not a national holiday, Earth Day on April 22nd each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Earth Day 2022 Theme

There is no official announcement about the Earth Day 2022 theme; however, it is expected to revolve around climate change. We will update it as soon as it is announced.

Earth Day 2022 Activities

Photo: mrsbremersclass

Reduce your carbon footprint

Get creative with new ways to switch up your commute, or a part of your daily routine. Instead of driving to your destination, carpool with friends, take public transportation, walk, skate, scooter, or ride a bike. Depending on the weather, you may enjoy this new form of travel even more than sitting in traffic.
Reuse, and recycle your wardrobe

Though it may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, your closet and your shopping habits can actually have a negative effect on our environment. By buying thrifted or gently used outfits online, new resources aren’t used to make more clothes that will eventually end up being repurposed, reused, or in a landfill. Some studies have shown that online shopping is better for the environment because it takes about 30% fewer resources to sell items online. Fire up your Amazon Prime app!
Switch up your diet

Most people may know that food production accounts for one-quarter to one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and the majority of the blame falls on the meat industry. The BBC recently reported that if the entire world became vegetarian and ate no red meat by 2050, food-related emissions would decrease by about 60%. If the world went vegan instead, emissions would decrease by around 70%. It may be time to try out the new ‘Beyond Meat’ burgers.

Earth Day 2022 Activities for the classroom

1. Connect with nature

Wouldn't it be fun to take a walk through a local park? The first and best way to celebrate Earth Day is to get outside and explore nature.

As they explore, kids can birdwatch and observe wildlife in natural habitats found throughout city parks and conservation areas.

There are countless ways to show kids how nature wakes up. In the spring, newly forming buds appear on trees. Birds chirp more often as the weather warms up. As they observe nature, kids just might develop a love for nature and our planet.

As you walk, be sure to remind students about the golden rule of nature exploring: “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”

Speaking of which...

2. Organize an Earth Day scavenger hunt

While students are exploring nature, have their catalog what they find!

There are lots of ways to observe and record nature that doesn’t involve disturbing the environment or taking things out of it. Create a list of things for them to do and spot as they walk, including:

Drawing pictures of flowers and plants
Spotting birds (and identifying them if they can)
Writing down or taking pictures of any wildlife they spot
Collecting litter and recycling — with the proper equipment, of course

After, use the nature walk as a writing prompt or opportunity for class discussion.

3. Hang birdseed ornaments

Celebrate Earth Day and feed the birds with the help of birdseed ornaments made from supplies you can find in the kitchen!

Great for kids of all ages, birdseed ornaments give feathered friends a snack and let kids see the birds that come to visit when you hang them outside the classroom or kitchen window.

What you need:

Straw
Twine
Birdseed
Corn syrup
Cookie cutters
Parchment paper
2 packets of gelatin
Cold and boiling water

What to do:

Mix the gelatin with ½ cup of cold water until it dissolves the powder.
Have an adult add ½ cup of boiling water to the gelatin so it dissolves.
Add 2 tablespoons of corn syrup and mix well.
Add birdseed to the gelatin mixture.
Spoon the birdseed mixture into cookie cutters and use parchment paper to pat the seeds into the cookie cutter.
Keep filling and pressing down the birdseed mixture. Be sure to leave a hole to thread twine through the ornament.
Place the filled cookie cutters in the fridge overnight.
The next day, give the birdseed ornaments a gentle push to let them fall out of the cookie-cutter mold.

Pull the twine through the holes and hang it outside for birds to enjoy!

4. Build an insect hotel

Your students can build an adorable hotel for bugs using basic materials you’ll find around the home — and recycle some trash in the process!

What you need:

Tree bark
Pinecones
A large plastic bottle
Fallen sticks and twigs
Any other earthly elements your kids may want to add

What to do:

Cut the bottle into two pieces to form separated cylinders. Remove the top and bottom pieces, as we will not be using them.
Push holes in the top of the bottle pieces and thread twine to hang when the hotel is completed.
Put twigs, branches, and pine cone pieces inside each bottle. You may need to snap the twigs to shorten them. Fill the bottles.

Hang outside to allow bugs to enjoy their new home.

5. Grow a love for plants with seed jars

Students love science experiments! Involve kids in making seed jars to honor Earth Day. They'll be able to watch seeds sprout and grow into a flower or vegetable, then plant it in a garden once it’s ready.

What you need:

Water
Paper towels
A clear large jar
Seeds (nasturtium, sunflowers, peas, and beans germinate quickly)

What to do:

Fold paper towels and place them inside jars. Allow your students to push the paper towels down into the jar.
Add water slowly into the jar but do not overfill it.
Put seeds on the wet paper towels near the edges of the glass so kids can watch their experiments grow before their eyes!

Earth Day 2022: Quotes

Photo: pinterest

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” —Wendell Berry, novelist.

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” —Kahlil Gibran, writer.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” —Albert Einstein, physicist.

“When the last tree is cut, the last fish is caught, and the last river is polluted; when to breathe the air is sickening, you will realize, too late, that wealth is not in bank accounts and that you can’t eat money.” —Alanis Obomsawin, Indigenous filmmaker.

“Time spent among trees is never time wasted.” —Katrina Mayer, writer.

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” —Mahatma Gandhi, lawyer, and ethicist.

Earth Day should encourage us to reflect on what we are doing to make our planet a more sustainable and livable place.” —Scott Peters, Congressman.

“The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.” —Gaylord Nelson, politician, and environmentalist.

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” —Rachel Carson, biologist and author.

“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” —David Attenborough, historian.

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.'” —Sylvia Plath, poet.

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” —Leo Tolstoy, writer.

“Let every breath, every word, and every step make the mother earth proud of us.” —Amit Ray, author.

“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together … all things connect.” —Native American Chief Seattle.

“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” —Lady Bird Johnson, former First Lady.

“To leave the world better than you found it, sometimes you have to pick up other people’s trash.” —Bill Nye, engineer and Science Guy.

“Dear old world…You are very lovely, And I am glad to be alive in you.” —Lucy Maud Montgomery, author.

"There is pleasure in the pathless woods. There is a rapture on the lonely shore. There is society, where none intrudes By the deep sea, and music in its roar. I love not to man the less, but nature more.” —Lord Byron, poet.

“Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live.” —Sioux prayer.

“The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” —Pope John Paul II.

“I really wonder what gives us the right to wreck this poor planet of ours.” —Kurt Vonnegut Jr., writer

“The earth has music for those who listen.” —William Shakespeare, playwright

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” —John Ruskin, art critic.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

“What’s the use of a fine house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” —Henry David Thoreau, naturalist, and writer

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —32nd president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” —Barbara Ward, economist, and writer.

“There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” —Marshall McLuhan, philosopher

“Break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” —John Muir, naturalist.

“… do something. Pay your rent for the privilege of living on this beautiful, blue-green, living Earth.” —Dave Foreman, environmentalist, and author.

“A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.” —John James Audubon, naturalist.

Earth Day: Wishes and Messages

Photo: ultimastatus

1. We are mere temporary visitors on this planet. We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from the future generation. Happy Earth Day!

2. The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. Happy Earth Day wishes!

3. Mother Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Happy Earth Day!

4. You don’t have to be a Superman, be Captain Planet! Let’s save the mother earth together.

5. On this day, let’s do our parts and make the earth greener and more liveable. Warm Wishes on Earth Day.

6. Let us take a vow to protect mother earth by doing our parts. Every small effort counts. Happy Earth Day!

7. Create a greener world before it becomes a fantasy for the next generation. Happy Earth Day!

8. Let the trees grow freely as you do on this earth. Save the planet in whatever way you can. Happy Earth Day!

9. Preserve mother earth and make it a better place for our children. Warm wishes on this earth day to you and your family.

10. Live in each season as it passes; breathes the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the Earth. Happy Earth Day!

11. We are already very late and therefore, we must waste no time anymore in saving our planet. Happy Earth Day!

12. Let us celebrate Earth Day by promising ourselves to contribute towards saving Earth and nurturing it for a better tomorrow.

13. Take good care of your Earth Earth Protect us We must Protect it too. Happy Earth Day!

14. The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it. Happy Earth Day!

15. We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do. Warm Wishes on Earth Day.

Earth Day Dates

Year	Date	Day
2022	April 22	Friday
2023	April 22	Saturday
2024	April 22	Monday
2025	April 22	Tuesday
2026	April 22	Wednesday

How is Earth Day celebrated?

Each year, Earth Day has a variety of themes, signifying a new focus on a particular environmental concern.

In 2022, these themes include:

Volunteering: millions of people will take part in Earth Day, and it is hoped that many will volunteer to improve the environments where they live. This could involve anything from cleaning up litter to help plant new trees.
Artists for the Earth: to help spread the message of environmental urgency, art can play a huge part in capturing the public’s imagination.
Education: it is only by focusing on the next generation that the environmental fight can continue to be fought.
Events: awareness events, such as street rallies and marches, will bring the causes of Earth Day to the doorstep of homes throughout the World.

Earth Day Fun Facts

Record high carbon dioxide

According to the National Geographic society, the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has never been higher, in part potentially due to nature, and in part, due to the advances, we as humans have made in industrialization across the globe, since the 1700s.
Less food waste means less greenhouse gas

Many people may not know this, but the more food we waste and do not consume, the more greenhouse gasses are emitted to transport and biodegrade the waste.
Climate change affects temperatures and weather

According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the temperature in the U.S. has increased by 2 degrees in the last 50 years and precipitation has increased by 5%. More extreme weather phenomenons have been occuring in the past 50 years -- Extreme weather in 2019 broke over 120,000 records in the US.
It’s a politically debated topic

Even though 97 percent or more of climate scientists agree that climate change is likely due to human activity (according to the Earth Day Network), and nearly 200 scientific organizations globally have issued statements that agree with this view, it’s still a widely debated topic in 2020.
The top emitter of carbon dioxide

China, with its human population of 1.4 Billion, is currently the top emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 30% of global carbon emissions, according to Earth Day Network. However, the United States, with a population around 328 Million, comes in second under China as a top emitter, at 15% of carbon emissions worldwide.