Earth Day is every day, and anywhere you are! This April 22, Earth Day find Digital Earth Day Events from your home during COVID-19 closures: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/#map
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. It was a unified response to an environment in crisis — oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire. The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws. Earth Day continues to hold major international significance: In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force.
The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge — but also the vast opportunities — of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? What will you do around your home on Wednesday, April 22?
1) Join the Earth Day Virtual Challenge and we are determined more than ever to crush last year’s total of 26,528.7892 miles. It’s FREE! The goal of the Earth Day Virtual Challenge (24,901 Miles) is simple. The goal is that during the month of April (Earth Day Month) we will collectively see how many times we can run the distance of the equator 24,901 miles! We need at least 415 participants to commit to run at least 2 miles a day for the month of April to make it at least once around the Equator but we think we can do more!
You can also upgrade your registration and you’ll get the Earth Day official t-shirt, the super cool commemorative medal to brag to your friends and show off your challenge accomplishment, and an eco-friendly stainless steel drinking straw. We’ll even include an Earth Day pack of wildflower seeds so you can help make a difference!
Throughout the month of April, you will be asked to log your miles and report them via our results page daily or weekly which will be tallied toward our overall goal. Recruit your friends, family, even co-workers to join our quest! Remember to share your mission by tagging @virtualrunchallenge and #VRCEarthDayChallenge
Join the Official Earth Day Challenge Facebook Group or Official Event Page
2) Listen to the voices of many leaders who will celebrate Earth Day with a variety of first-person video pieces demonstrating their commitment to our planet during Earth Day Live – watch a live digital event (15 hours 9am ET to 11pm ET) on the homepage for the planet, earthday.org. You can also follow along on Twitter #EarthDay2020.
