Earth Day (International Mother Earth Day) observed on April 22

Key facts

• Earth Day, also known as International Mother Earth Day, is observed annually on April 22.
• The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, in the United States.
• The movement was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson following the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
• Activist Denis Hayes organised the first national demonstration, which involved 20 million participants.
• The initial movement led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts in the United States.
• In 1990, Earth Day events were organised for 200 million people across 141 countries.
• The United Nations (UN) Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day in 2009.
• The day served as a launchpad for major international agreements, including the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016.