April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual event that brings people together around environmental activism and sustainability, with the overarching goal of creating lasting change to protect natural resources.
The environmental movement began in 1962, when Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring was first published. Over 500,000 copies were sold, and the book made the New York Times bestseller list. Regarded as one of the most influential books of all time, Silent Spring fundamentally changed the way the public perceived industrialization and the application of pesticides, and paved the way for the widespread realization that the earth is deteriorating. Following a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California in 1969, the public was primed for environmental action.
Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, who eventually received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for this achievement. In 1970, 20 million Americans — at the time, 10% of the total U.S. population — participated in rallies and protests against oil spills, pollution, the dumping of sewage and toxic chemicals, urbanization, habitat loss, and wildlife extinction (EarthDay.org).
Earth Day spurred major milestones in U.S. environmental policy, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, and passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. 20 years later, in 1990, Earth Day expanded to reach 200 million people around the world and the significance of the annual event was established forever.
Earth Day has continued to grow and evolve, and this year’s 50th anniversary event is going digital. Internet and social media will enable Earth Day 2020 to broaden its reach to an even wider audience. A number of digital events are planned around the world, focusing on many of the original environmental issues that continue to be problematic, and with a growing emphasis on climate change, plastic pollution, and other emerging issues of the 21st century.
It goes without saying that Earth Day should be celebrated throughout the year. This incredible global movement has inspired generations of environmental activists and has shaped our view of conservation towards unity and political action. Every individual act of sustainability is meaningful to the larger goal of protecting our planet. Today, as we celebrate the past 50 years of protecting our spectacular earth, we remind you to look ahead towards the next 50 years with anticipation of what we can achieve.
