How it all started
 

The seeds of Earth Day were planted in response to mounting ecological concerns in the U.S., particularly following a devastating oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and student activist Denis Hayes spearheaded the initiative, aiming to galvanize public concern and put environmental issues on the political agenda.

The first Earth Day brought 20 million Americans into the streets in a nationwide call for change. By 1990, the movement had gone global, and today, Earth Day involves more than a billion participants in nearly 200 countries.

"Earth Day is where many people take their first step into environmental action," says Kathleen Rogers, president of Earthday.org.

Earth Day 2025: A call for clean energy

The upcoming Earth Day will focus on the theme "Our Power, Our Planet," urging a rapid transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Organizers are calling for a tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030 — a goal aligned with a commitment made by governments at the COP28 summit in 2023.

While the renewable energy sector has grown quickly, the International Energy Agency has warned that it's still not expanding fast enough to meet these targets.

Beyond the central theme, Earth Day is marked by countless local events — from litter cleanups and tree plantings to community discussions and climate education initiatives.

What has Earth Day accomplished?

In the years following the first Earth Day, major steps were taken in the U.S. to protect the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency was founded, and key legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act was passed or strengthened.

Globally, Earth Day has helped spark massive tree-planting campaigns, support sustainable farming, and promote climate education. It's also played a symbolic role — such as in 2016, when world leaders gathered to formally sign the Paris Agreement on Earth Day, pledging to limit global warming.

Former UN climate chief Yvo de Boer says Earth Day serves as a vital reminder: "With so many pressing issues dominating the agenda, Earth Day helps us reflect on the long-term costs of short-term thinking."

A day of action — or distraction?

Despite its achievements, Earth Day has faced criticism. Environmental advocates argue that current efforts aren't enough to reverse worsening climate trends, and that the event can sometimes offer a misleading sense of progress.

There's also concern about "greenwashing" — when companies or public figures use Earth Day as a PR opportunity while continuing environmentally harmful practices. Climate activist Greta Thunberg has warned that Earth Day risks becoming a platform for performative environmentalism rather than real change.

Earthday.org's Kathleen Rogers acknowledges the problem: "We know Earth Day is misused by some, and that greenwashing is rampant. That's why governments must hold companies accountable for misleading the public."

As the climate crisis deepens, the future of Earth Day depends on whether it can remain a tool for genuine action — not just symbolic gestures.