Earth is our home, and the only planet we can live on. In recent years, our world is facing major environmental challenges and global crises, mainly caused by human activities.
This video aims to provide an overview of these planetary crises and the history of International Mother Earth Day, with an emphasis on its prominent yearly themes and key advocacy.
Earth is our home, and the only planet we can live on. In recent years, our world is facing major environmental challenges and global crises, mainly caused by human activities.
This video aims to provide an overview of these planetary crises and the history of International Mother Earth Day, with an emphasis on its prominent yearly themes and key advocates.
State of Our Planet
The world population hit 1 billion in 1804 and doubled to 2 billion by 1927. Today, our planet is home to over 8 billion people, and it’s expected to surpass 10 billion by the 2060s.
Due to overconsumption and industrialization, our planet is facing numerous environmental challenges. Among them, climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss are identified by the United Nations as the “triple planetary crisis.” These issues are destroying our living environment, threatening our health and lives, and jeopardizing our future.
The first planetary crisis is air and water pollution. According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the global population breathes unhealthy air that exceeds WHO air quality limits. Every year, air pollution kills more than 7 million people and unsafe water sources are responsible for over one million deaths worldwide.
The second planetary crisis is climate warming. Compared to pre-industrial levels, the global average temperature has risen by 1.6°C in 2024. Global warming has led to more frequent and severe extreme climate events in recent years. It’s expected that the global average temperature will exceed 2.0°C of warming by 2050 and reach 3.1°C by the end of this century.
The third planetary crisis is biodiversity loss. Currently, our planet is experiencing the 6th mass extinction event. Scientists estimate that the current rate of species extinction is hundreds of times higher than the average rate over the last 10 million years, and this rate will continue to accelerate over the next 300 years. Since 1970, global wildlife populations have declined by 68%. Currently, about one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction.
Another planetary crisis is resource overshoot. Since 1970, humanity’s consumption of natural resources has exceeded what Earth can replenish. Over the past 50 years, Earth Overshoot Day has moved up by nearly half a year, from December 25 in 1971 to August 1 in 2024. According to the Global Footprint Network, humanity’s annual demand for natural resources is now equivalent to more than 1.7 Earths. This underscores the importance of sustainable development.
To achieve the global agenda for sustainable development goals, environmental conservation and protection have become increasingly crucial.
History of Earth Day
The modern environmental movement took off in 1970 with the establishment of International Mother Earth Day, although the roots of environmentalism go back further.
In 1969, people in the United States were thrilled by the first color photo of Earth, captured from the Moon by an astronaut on Christmas Eve 1968. This iconic image, later known as “Earthrise,” depicted the world rising above the sunlit lunar landscape, highlighting Earth’s beauty, fragility, and our smallness in the vast universe. It marked the beginning of a growing awareness of the need to care for our planet.
On January 28, 1969, a massive oil spill occurred six miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, Southern California. Over a ten-day period, more than 3 million U.S. gallons of crude oil spilled into the ocean, creating a 2,100-square-kilometer oil slick and killing over 10,000 seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Public outrage over the oil spill, combined with the growing concerns about the environmental and public health impacts of industrialization in the United States, spurred numerous environmental education campaigns.
In October 1969, during a conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in San Francisco, John McConnell proposed a holiday to honor the Earth, promote peace, and raise awareness about the need to preserve the threatened ecological balance upon which all life depends. He suggested that the first celebration be held on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. His proposal was later endorsed in a proclamation issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
Around the same time, on September 20, 1969, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson announced a plan for a national campaign of “environmental teach-ins.” The nationwide environmental teach-in was scheduled for April 22, 1970. This date was chosen to maximize college student participation, as it didn’t fall during exams or spring breaks, didn’t conflict with religious holidays like Easter, and was late enough in spring to have decent weather.
Senator Nelson hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, as the national coordinator. In early 1970, Julien Koenig, a copywriter, volunteered to help and suggested renaming the event “Earth Day” because it rhymed with “birthday” and coincidentally, April 22 was his birthday. Nelson and Hayes agreed. Koenig even offered to buy a full-page ad in the Sunday New York Times, which immediately sparked national attention. Overnight, “Earth Day” became a popular name across the country.
On the first Earth Day, more than 20 million Americans from 2,000 colleges and universities, over 1,000 primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities took to the streets and participated in rallies, marches, and teach-ins calling for environmental reform and conservation. The first Earth Day remains the largest single-day protest in human history.
The first Earth Day celebration was such a hit that it inspired the U.S. government to create the Environmental Protection Agency in December 1970. This led to some groundbreaking environmental laws in the 1970s, like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Toxics Substances Control Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated April 22nd as International Mother Earth Day to promote harmony with nature and the Earth. The goal is to balance the economic, social, and environmental needs of both current and future generations.
Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 192 countries, making it the largest secular day of protest in the world. Over a billion people have joined Earth Day activities, committed to preserving nature’s harmony and promoting global sustainability.
Prominent Yearly Themes and Key Advocates
Every year, organizations and communities worldwide host a variety of educational and promotional activities on Earth Day. These events aim to raise awareness about the importance of living in harmony with nature and inspire innovative actions at all levels.
Each year, the United Nations selects a specific theme for International Mother Earth Day, focusing on a pressing environmental issue. Here are the 10 prominent themes of International Mother Earth Day:
The Earth Day’s 2025 theme is “Our Power, Our Planet.” This theme advocates for families to make smart energy choices and urges governments, industries, and businesses to accelerate the deployment of rapid renewable energy solutions.
Let’s care for our Mother Earth to ensure a sustainable future for all.
