Earth Day is a global event that takes place on April 22nd every year, with millions of people around the world coming together to promote environmental awareness and take action to protect our planet.
The history of Earth Day dates back to 1970, when it was first observed in the United States as a response to growing concerns about environmental degradation, pollution, and the impact of human activities on the planet.
Since then, Earth Day has become a powerful movement that has spread to over 190 countries, involving billions of people and inspiring various initiatives to promote global environmental sustainability.
Earth Day and its Evergreen History
The idea for Earth Day originated by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was deeply concerned about the detrimental effects of human activities on the environment.
He was inspired by the student anti-war movement of the 1960s and wanted to create a similar movement focused on environmental issues. Senator Nelson chose April 22nd as the date for Earth Day to maximize participation among college students, as it fell between spring break and final exams. He also believed that students could be powerful advocates for environmental conservation.
The first official Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970. An estimated 20 million Americans – including students, teachers, activists, and ordinary citizens – participated in demonstrations, rallies, and events across the country to demand action on environmental issues.
Overtime, the widespread support Earth Day gained was a reflection of the growing public concern about pollution, deforestation, wildlife extinction, and other environmental problems.
Earth Day's Impact and Achievements
Thanks to Senator Nelson’s initiative efforts, the success of the first Earth Day had a profound impact on this environmental movement. It led to significant achievements in the realm of environmental policy and conservation efforts.
One of the immediate outcomes of Earth Day was the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has since played a critical role in regulating pollution and protecting the environment in the United States since 1970.
In addition to the creation of this environmental agency, Earth Day also paved the way for the passage of several landmark environmental laws, such as:
These laws play a crucial role in protecting the environment, improving air and water quality, conserving natural resources, and promoting sustainability.
Overall, Earth Day has been instrumental in raising public awareness about environmental issues and inspiring individuals, communities, and organizations to take action to protect the planet.
Over the years, this official day has grown into a global movement, with millions of people participating in various activities, such as clean-up campaigns, tree planting, educational programs, and advocacy efforts to promote environmental sustainability.
The Many Elements of Environmental Sustainability
As environmental issues continue to be a pressing concern for our planet, the need for sustainability has become more crucial than ever.
Climate Change
Climate change is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the world today. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reports global temperatures have risen by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century. This is primarily due to human activities such as:
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Burning and trapping greenhouse gas emissions
Other industrial processes
Left unaddressed, climate change can have severe consequences, many of which we are continuing to see today. Severe weather events, rising sea levels, and the disruption of ecosystems have all had long-term impact on our planet.
Biodiversity Loss
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, which is greatly under threat due to various factors. The loss of biodiversity has accelerated in recent years due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), global populations of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles have declined by an average of 68% since 1970.
Even more recently, oceans and bodies of water in some regions are experiencing this loss in biodiversity from severe droughts or harmful bacterial invasions.
Watershed Resources
The recent availability and quality of watershed resources is another strong indicator of environmental sustainability. Water scarcity in multiple regions of the U.S. alone is a rising concern. According to the United Nations, around 2.2 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking water today. 4.2 billion people lack any sort of access to safely managed sanitation areas. With an estimated 1.9 billion living in water-scarce areas, this number is only expected to increase considering global growth and climate change.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is essential for achieving environmental sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that renewable energy accounts for 29% of global electricity generation in 2020, up from 27% in 2019.
However, the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption remains low. Significant efforts and sustainable action is needed to increase the uptake of renewable energy sources.
Expanding Environmental Awareness with Geomat
At Geomat, we deem every day as Earth Day, and an opportunity to conserve and preserve global natural resources. Our Geomat systems are environmentally compliant with OSHA, EPA, and other environmental agencies.
Our mission is to provide each and every company with an environmentally conscious solution to their business operation. We believe in the influential power sustainability can have on our planet and the many ways it can be addressed and mended.
The organizations that are faced with these environmental challenges of preventing fluids and contaminants from entering the ecosystem are protected by our Patented waste water recovery systems – enabling their operations to be fully compliant to all Federal and State law while promoting a cleaner, more sustainable future.
For the latest news on environmental sustainability, visit our Blog page. Contact Geomat today to learn how our systems can help you achieve environmental compliance.