Erick Burgueño Salas
Research expert covering climate change and the water industry
Get in touch with us nowBackground on Earth Day
When the first Earth Day was organized in 1970, nearly 20 million people across the U.S. flocked the streets to oppose environmental degradation and increasing emission levels. Outrage was fueled by two major incidents that got massive media attention - a major oil spill in the Santa Barbara Channel in Southern California at the beginning of 1969 and a fire on the polluted waters of Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. The incidents brought long-term environmental effects to marine life, polluted the shores, and caused severe economic damage. This was when there were still no policies and laws on the nation's air and water quality. The amount of people that rose to the occasion to solve these pervasive challenges along with the outpouring of public activity had an enormous political impact. By the end of that year, environmental concerns became a part of the political value system and led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The country also passed many environmental laws in the following years.Invest in our Planet
For the first time in its history, the theme for Earth Day 2023 is a continuation of the previous year, following the same motto "Invest in our Planet" as announced by the earthday.org (the organizational body for Earth Day worldwide, formerly Earth Day Network). This year's 53rd Earth Day is focused on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and individuals to do their part – everyone accounted for, everyone accountable. It calls for working together to accelerate answers to one of the greatest issue we face - climate change.Bringing about policy changes, pushing for climate literacy, embracing sustainable fashion, reducing carbon footprints through reforestation, and making conscious efforts as corporations and people to reduce waste and plastic usage are some of the concerns explored by the Earth Day theme.
