Earth Day is coming. But what does this day actually mean? Here’s what you need to know about the annual observances and how you can celebrate our planet while fighting climate change.
“To me, every day is Earth Day,” Leila Yassine, global campaigns manager for the Rainforest Alliance, told USA Today. “But I think it’s important to use this Earth Day as a wake-up call for everyone every year.”
She went on to say that the day itself draws attention to organizations working on climate change and what people can do to help the planet recover.
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When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is held on April 22 every year. However, this year it falls on a Monday, the same date as the start of the Jewish holiday Passover.
According to a previous report by USA Today, the day has been celebrated for more than 50 years but is not recognized by the federal government.
Why do we celebrate Earth Day?
According to the Library of Congress website, the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when 20 million people attended opening events at schools, colleges and other public places across the country.
Senator Gaylord Nelson championed Earth Day and called on “students to fight for environmental causes and oppose environmental degradation with the same energy they opposed the Vietnam War,” the library said.
Later, the library added, the EPA was created in July 1970 as the public demanded cleaner water, air and land as more disasters caused by climate change and pollution affected the country.
How do we celebrate Earth Day 2024?
Yassin said her favorite way to celebrate Earth Day is to take a walk in nature.
“It just reminds us how beautiful the earth is and how powerful nature is,” Yassin said. “So I thought for me it was a way to celebrate Earth Day.”
But, she added, that’s not the only way to celebrate Earth Day, there are simple things people can do as well.
She said people can do small things like go to the grocery store and buy sustainable produce.
Since Earth Day falls on Monday, you can also celebrate it by participating in Meatless Monday. The movement was launched in 2003 by Sid Lerner and the Center for a Livable Future at Johns Hopkins University, according to its website. It aims to reduce the amount of meat in the diet to improve health and the health of the planet.
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, a more plant-based diet may improve not only environmental health but also human health.
But if you don’t feel like that, you always have the option of going to a local park, cleaning up a beach, or participating in an Earth Day in your area.
“Daily actions are important,” Yassin said. “Tackling climate change doesn’t always require us to have breakthrough innovations or technologies.”
People can also research news about climate change and the work that needs to be done. However, Yassin said it was also important to focus on positive news about the situation.
Have a positive attitude towards Earth Day 2024
Sharing positive news about the climate crisis and avoiding doom-scrolling on social media can encourage others to address the issue and keep people optimistic about the future of the climate crisis, Yassin said.
Regardless of how people choose to celebrate Earth Day or address climate change, Yassin said it’s important to stay positive about the future.
“Sharing ideas will really foster collective optimism,” she said. “It’s like you have some little seed and you’re feeding it. You keep feeding it until it gives you this beautiful tree of hope.”
Julia is a popular reporter for USA Today. She covers a variety of topics from local business and government in her hometown of Miami to technology and pop culture.You can follow herX, formerly known as TwitterInstagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz
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