The Story of Earth Day: A look Into the Origins and Traditions

By Allison Plante

Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, began in 1970 as a response to rising environmental concerns during a time of rapid industrialization and ecological neglect. The movement was driven by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who sought to bring environmental issues to the forefront of public consciousness. Inspired by the widespread energy of anti-war protests, the first Earth Day united millions of people across the United States to demonstrate for a healthier, more sustainable planet. This historic event catalyzed significant policy changes, including the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act. Today, Earth Day serves as a global call to action, reminding us of the importance of protecting our planet for future generations.

Prior to the first Earth Day in 1970, there had been conversation about the negative anthropogenic impacts on the planet spurred by Rachel Carson and her New York Times bestseller “Silent Spring” in 1962, setting the stage for environmentalism to reach the press. “Silent Spring” represented a watershed moment, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries, Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and the inextricable links between pollution and public health (Boslaugh, 2025). 

On January 28th, 1969, a well named Platform A, drilled by Union Oil blew out 6 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. More than 3 million gallons of oil spilled, killing more than 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. As a reaction to this disaster, activists mobilized to create environmental regulation and environmental education programs. The 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill was a wake-up call for the United States. The unfortunate abundance of marine animal death got the public's attention and incentivized lawmakers to action. Due to such a disaster, 1969 marked a turning point for environmental activism (Hamilton, 2019). 

Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, was deeply troubled by the worsening environmental conditions in the United States. After witnessing the devastating impact of the oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, and drawing inspiration from the student-led anti-war movement, Nelson sought to channel similar energy into raising awareness around air and water pollution. He proposed the concept of a nationwide teach-in on college campuses, shared his vision with the national media, and enlisted the support of Pete McCloskey, a Republican congressman known for his commitment to conservation, as his co-chair. Senator Gaylord Nelson recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the campus teach-ins. They choose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.

The first Earth Day was a groundbreaking event that mobilized approximately 20 million Americans—about 10% of the U.S. population at the time. Events were held in over 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 schools, and hundreds of communities. This massive grassroots effort helped push environmental concerns into the national spotlight, leading to significant policy changes like the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency later that year. 

Today, Earth Day is recognized by millions of people across 192 countries. Its continuous celebration over the last five decades has been the catalyst for environmental legislation such as The Paris Climate Accord in 2014. Modern day celebrations of Earth Day have mobilized advocacy groups and missions such as the "Our Power, Our Planet" campaign which promotes renewable energy and urges governments and industries to triple global clean energy generation by 2030. Additionally, initiatives like the Global Plastics Treaty Petition aim to combat plastic pollution by advocating for international agreements to reduce plastic waste. Community-driven efforts, such as tree-planting projects under the Canopy Project, have restored millions of trees in areas affected by deforestation. Earth Day continues to address critical environmental challenges and inspire collective action across individuals, organizations, and policymakers.

Citations

Boslaugh, Sarah E. “Silent Spring.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 21 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/Silent-Spring. 

Charron, Aidan. “Our Power, Our Planet: Earth Day’s 2025 Theme Decoded.” Earth Day, earthday.org, 16 Sept. 2024, www.earthday.org/our-power-our-planet-earth-days-2025-theme-decoded/. 

“Global Plastics Treaty | Pages | WWF.” Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/global-plastics-treaty. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025. 

Hamilton, Jon. “How California’s Worst Oil Spill Turned Beaches Black and the Nation Green.” NPR, NPR, 28 Jan. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/01/28/688219307/how-californias-worst-oil-spill-turned-beaches-black-and-the-nation-green. 

“The Canopy Project.” Earth Day, earthday.org, 26 Aug. 2024, www.earthday.org/campaign/the-canopy-project/. 

“The History of Earth Day.” Earth Day, earthday.org, 23 Jan. 2024, www.earthday.org/history/. 

“The Paris Agreement.” Unfccc.Int, United Nations Climate Change, unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.