Earth Day 2025
Earth Day began on April 22nd, 1970, which marks the first official Earth Day event. Leading up to Earth Day, there was an increasing social concern about pollution, oil spoils, and overall long-lasting damage to natural environments and additional concerns about dwindling natural resources. These concerns lead to the creation of the National Environmental Policies Act, also known as NEPA. NEPA led to many laws, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act, also known as BEACH, that protect the environment. NEPA also led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, also known as EPA, which is tasked with enforcing and monitoring the aforementioned laws. Spurred on in part by the successful passing of NEPA, environmental activists and politicians alike helped create the first Earth Day event.
Our planet has finite resources. Those resources, namely gas, coal, iron, and copper, are rapidly dwindling while the worldwide population increases and most industries require an exponentially increasing amount of resources for mass production.
According to Stanford University researchers, we'll run out of non-renewable energy in waves. Oil, gas, and coal reserves, in that order, will be depleted within 70 years.
That's why the theme of Earth Day 2025, "Our Power, Our Planet," is a call to raise awareness of renewable energy options that benefit all of our communities. Earthday.org, the primary coordinator of Earth Day events worldwide, is calling on all of us to help triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030! Clean electricity is electricity created by renewable sources such as windmills, solar power, and hydropower, to name a few. Clean electricity is also called green energy.
How to Celebrate and Support Earth Day 2025
Ways you can get involved this Earth Day include:
- Support local renewable energy efforts.
- Buy and wear more sustainable fashion.
- Educate yourself on the impact of non-renewable energy on the environment, humans, and mammals.
Locally, there are many Earth Day 2025 events scheduled, such as:
April 23rd: Attend the Earth Day event at The Fishbowl Art Gallery (https://www.thefishbowlseattle.com/events) in Seattle!
April 26th: Explore the Earth Day Celebration in Rhododendron Park (https://www.kenmorewa.gov/our-city/special-events/earth-day)
April 27th: Visit the Earth Day Fair (https://leavenworth.org/event/earth-day-fair-2025/) in Enchantment Park in Leavenworth!
To find other Earth Day events in your area to participate in, check your local newspaper or try a Google search.
A Brief History of Earth Day
Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson helped lead the effort that resulted in the first Earth Day in 1970. A staunch conservationist, Nelson had long sought to bring environmental issues into the political arena. Through creative promotion, the first Earth Day was a resounding success – reportedly spurring about 20 million Americans to participate in rallies for environmental reform.
That said, Senator Gaylord Nelson was only one part of the success of Earth Day. Other equally noteworthy contributors include;
John McConnell
John McConnell is credited as having conceptualized Earth Day, and it was he who first brought it to the attention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO, in 1969.
A lifelong peace and environmental activist, McConnell also designed the iconic Earth Day Flag and is the founder of the Earth Day Society Foundation, the same organization that promotes and champions Earth Day and environmental activism to this very day.
Denis Hayes
Denis Hayes, a lifelong environmental activist with a focus on solar energy, worked as the national coordinator for the first Earth Day event.
Julian Koenig
Julian Koenig was a legendary copywriter and marketer who coined the name, "Earth Day" and played a crucial role in promoting the first event. Here's an interesting fact: Earth Day occurs on April 22nd, which is also Julian Koenig's birthday.
Lastly, special mention must be given to the nameless and countless activists who helped organize the first Earth Day event. Because of the collective hard work of those mentioned, Earth Day has become an international event with over 190 countries participating.
Join Others Worldwide in Making a Difference on Earth Day 2025.
According to Earthday.org, 15 million people worldwide have volunteered in cleanup events, and hundreds of millions of trees have been planted.
We hope you join us in celebrating Earth Day 2025 – and find a way to help make a difference. Whether it's choosing solar power, donating to renewable energy, or just spreading the word, we all can play a part in protecting the earth.