Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day. It marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. 

More than 1 billion people in over 193 countries participate in Earth Day every year with a collective goal of making our planet a better place. Whether it's educating, advocating or mobilizing in your community, there are lots of different ways to help.

The idea of Earth Day came about in the 1960s, when people starting becoming more aware of how environmental pollution threatens human health.

Prior to the EPA being created in 1970, Americans drove inefficient cars that used leaded gas and industries were free to pollute the environment with harmful smoke and gas. In 1969, a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calfiornia, inspired action for students and Americans to become more conscious about air and water pollution.

Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson and young environmental activists created “Earth Day” as a day of protest in 1970, choosing a day between Spring Break and final exams to maximize student participation. At the time, more than 20 million Americans joined to demonstrate against industries that were polluting the environment.

Since its establishment, it’s continued to grow into a worldwide movement, with millions of participants in hundreds of countries every year on April 22. Each year has a different theme for people to focus on. Earth Day’s 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet," calling for everyone to unite around renewable energy so we can triple clean electricity by 2030.

You can learn more about the history of Earth Day and its initiatives here.

There are a lot of simple ways to celebrate Earth Day and make an impact, no matter how big or small. A simple way to start could be buying reusable bags for your trips to the grocery store, or getting a reusable water bottle instead of drinking out of single-use plastic bottles.

If you want to be more involved, you could pick up trash around your neighborhood or community, or plan to carpool or take public transportation. There is no action too small!

Here are eight ways you can make every day Earth Day.

If you want to go out in the community and help with others, there are Earth Day events all around the world.

Learn more about Earth Day activities in your community with the interactive map below.