- by Graham Holton
- The Guardian
- Issue #2187
The official theme for Earth Day 2026 (22 April) was ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ to highlight that every person’s actions matter, not just on Earth Day, but every day. It is a celebration of global environmental efforts and a reminder that meaningful change starts with everyday people doing collective action. Individuals, communities, organisations and leaders will use their collective influence to protect and restore the environment.
Earth Day is a call to recognise the power we each hold, through our voices, choices, voting, daily habits and activism. It empowers people to protect and improve natural ecosystems around the world. Together these actions shape a healthier and more sustainable future for our planet.
Earth Day was first celebrated on 22 April 1970 in the United States. It was founded by a US Senator, who was inspired by the growing environmental concerns of the 1960s, such as air pollution, water contamination, and the aftermath of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Nelson proposed a nationwide ‘teach-in’ on the environment, to raise public awareness and push for political action.
The first Earth Day brought together people across universities, schools, and communities. More than 20 million people in the US participated in rallies, cleanups, and educational events. This grassroots movement helped make environmental protection a major public concern.
This led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, and helped to pass major environmental laws in the US. In 1990 Earth Day became international, and today than 200 million people in 141 countries participate globally. The movement went on to create worldwide initiatives on issues such as climate change, deforestation, and pollution. EarthDay.org coordinates global efforts, making it the largest secular civic observance in the world. It inspires activism, legislation, and individual action toward sustainability. In Australia Earth Day helped raise public pressure for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef receiving its World Heritage listing in 1981.
Many environmental organisations like WWF Australia, local Landcare networks, and school programmes have offering resources, workshops, fundraising, and community challenges. These focus on biodiversity protection, waste reduction, climate action and renewable energy awareness.
Earth Day is not the novelty it once was, but it’s a collective activity well worth supporting.
