Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, serves as a vital reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and sustain our environment. The holiday holds great historical significance. In 1970, the first celebration mobilized more than 20 million people across the United States, leading to environmental reforms including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the enactment of critical legislation like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. The movement has also acted as a catalyst for policy change, influencing national governments and supporting international agreements like the Paris Agreement, which aims to curb global warming. Beyond agency establishment and policy change, Earth Day raises awareness about critical issues like pollution, deforestation and climate change. It connects people with scientific research and encourages sustainable lifestyles and eco-friendly practices such as waste reduction, energy conservation and renewable energy, which benefits both the environment and public health. Additionally, Earth day drives economic growth through green jobs and clean technologies.
Earth Day can be celebrated in simple and fun ways. If you feel like getting your hands dirty, you can start by planting a tree or a garden. This is a good way to support sustainability and produce energy sources. However, if you don’t have the time and still want to contribute, you can also donate to environmental nonprofits. The SF Parks Alliance, a local nonprofit that has been around since 1971, is the only city-wide parks nonprofit in San Francisco. While you can donate money to the Parks Alliance, you can also support them by helping clean up litter in parks around the city.
According to Sustainability Success, an environmental education organization, some ways everyone can practice sustainability and environmental justice in everyday life include buying local and conserving paper and plastic. Going to local markets can help save carbon footprint, since buying products directly in person can reduce the use of packaging supplies. Using reusable shopping bags, and replacing paper towels with cloth towels are also easy ways to reduce waste.
Another way to honor Earth Day is by staying informed about environmental issues. Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the administration has rolled back over 100 environmental protections. Some of the most damaging of which include withdrawing the U.S from the Paris climate agreement and finalizing a plan to allow oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a decision that overturned 60 years of protections for the largest remaining stretch of wilderness in the U.S. Another prominent threat is the increasing effects of climate change. According to a 2023 report by The Guardian, 15% of Americans don’t believe in the existence of climate change, and this rhetoric is amplified by the current administration, with Trump referring to the crisis as “one of the greatest scams of all time.”
If we don’t understand and acknowledge the current threats facing the environment, we cannot make meaningful changes to address them. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of the earth, not just on Earth Day, but year round.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, Opinion Editor: Dakota Duran, Scene Editor: Elina Graham
