Earth Day Celebrations: Notes for IAS Exam | Testbook.com

The Genesis of World Earth Day

The concept of Earth Day was first proposed at the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Conference in 1969 in San Francisco by peace activist John McConnell. The first Earth Day was celebrated on March 21, 1970, marking the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day was later officially recognized by the United Nations.

A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson initiated a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. This event, coordinated by young activist Denis Hayes, was renamed “Earth Day.” This first Earth Day was primarily focused on the United States, but by 1990, it had become a global event, with activities organized in 141 nations.

For more information about the World Environment Day , check out our dedicated article.

Noteworthy Facts about Earth Day

Let's explore some fascinating facts about Earth Day.

1. The inaugural Earth Day was observed on April 22, 1970.
2. On the first Earth Day, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest against industrial pollution, biodiversity loss and ecological degradation. This led to the genesis of a grassroots environmental movement.
3. Earth Day was initially celebrated only in the United States but had become a global event by 1990.
4. On Earth Day 2009, Disney released a documentary film called Earth, which followed the migration paths of four animal families.
5. Every year on April 22, people worldwide participate in activities such as cleaning up garbage, planting trees, cleaning coral reefs, screening films, signing petitions, and planning for a more sustainable future for our planet.
6. In 2009, the United Nations officially renamed Earth Day as International Mother Earth Day.
7. In 2011, Afghanistan witnessed the planting of 28 million trees in celebration of Earth Day.
8. On Earth Day 2012, over a hundred thousand people in China rode bicycles to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and conserve fuel.
9. To commemorate Earth Day, 100 endangered species of orchids were planted and conserved in Panama to prevent their extinction.

For more resources and materials related to UPSC preparation, refer to the links provided in the table below. The UPSC Syllabus page will give you a broad understanding of the pattern of the UPSC Exams.

Related Links

Weathering	Loss of Biodiversity	Heating and Cooling of Atmosphere
Volcanoes	UPSC Current Affairs	Government Exams
Central Vigilance Commission	Goods and Services Tax	Conservation of Biodiversity
Minimum Alternate Tax	Gist of Rajya Sabha TV	Static GK
UPSC Prelims Plan	NCERT Geography Notes	NITI Aayog