Celebrating Earth Day: A Legacy of Global Environmental Action
Earth Day was established in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who recruited Denis Hayes to organize a national movement. What began as a day of protests and teach-ins only around the United States expanded over the decades to a day of action around the world. Former Indianapolis Mayor, characterized the first Earth Day as “a day for contemplation, conversation, and action to halt and reverse the impending crisis of the decay of man’s environment.”
Global Expansion and Environmental Awareness
Earth Day grew to a global event in 1990 with people from 141 countries engaging, often focusing on recycling efforts. Some attribute the increased participation from citizens around the world in the early 1990s to increased participation by state delegations, and Non-Governmental Organizations at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Since becoming a global event in 1990, significant acts of international cooperation regarding environmental issues have taken place on Earth Day. Notably, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed on Earth Day in 2016. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties, with goals of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions through nationally determined contributions, developing technologies to mitigate climate change, and increasing tracking of various environmentally significant factors.
Local Actions and Initiatives
Luckily, you do not need to be a national delegation, the leader of an NGO or in another country to contemplate converse or act, to participate in Earth Day! There are Indiana-based organizations hosting events for Earth Day, and if you do not attend an event, you participate by doing something on your own.
The Indianapolis Zoo is hosting a variety of educational events, Saturday April 20th, including a lesson on eggshell gardens, or focused conversations about specific animals throughout the day.
On the same day White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, and the Sisters of Providence are hosting an Earth Day Festival in Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods Indiana. The event runs from 11:00-3:00 on April 20th.
The City of Elkhart Indiana is hosting an Earth Day Festival on April 20th and intends to provide an educational opportunity. The City of Elkhart is using this opportunity not only to educate, but also as an opportunity to act. They plan to provide citizens with free trees as they hope to increase their Urban Canopy.
Join the Global Effort
If instead you would like to participate in an initiative this Earth Day, you can participate in the global initiative ‘Great Global Cleanup’ at a local level, use the following link to find a cleanup near you.
Whether you choose to participate in Earth Day by attending an educational event, or you plan to participate in an initiative, by doing so you are engaging in a global effort and connecting with the international community.
By Deacon Fountain, Community Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Sources:
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2024/
https://spsmw.org/event/earth-day-festival-2024/
https://www.indianapoliszoo.com/celebrate-earth-day/
https://www.earthday.org/history/
