Every year on April 22, people around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect it. It also serves as a reminder of what a beautiful planet we have got. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 as a small environmental movement, and later grew into a global call to action, inspiring millions to take steps - big and small - to safeguard the Earth's natural beauty and resources.
Earth Day was first observed in 1970, an era when industries belched out smoke and sludge with little fear of the consequences from wither the law or bad press. It was a time when air pollution was accepted as the "smell of prosperity", especially in America. Inspired by the ravages of a massive oil spill in California, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin (sometimes seen as the father of Earth Day) envisioned a day of education and activism. Partnering with activist Denis Hayes, Nelson helped organise rallies and demonstrations across the United States. Over 20 million Americans participated in that first Earth Day, demanding cleaner air, water, and a healthier environment.
The success of Earth Day directly led to landmark legislation in the United States, such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Today, Earth Day is observed in over 190 countries, making it one of the largest secular observances in the world.
The significance of Earth Day continues to grow with the mounting challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and deforestation. It serves as a reminder that every individual plays a role in shaping the future of our planet.
Earth Day is not just a celebration; it's a commitment - a global conversation about sustainability, innovation, and responsibility.
Events worldwide include tree planting drives, clean-up campaigns, climate marches, educational seminars, and eco-friendly initiatives at corporate and community levels. Digital activism has also surged, allowing people to participate online through webinars, social media campaigns, and pledges.
Monsoon brings welcome relief but also triggers respiratory health issues like cold, flu, asthma and pneumonia, due to high humidity, mould, dust, air pollution and viral outbreaks.
The Supreme Court has upheld the powers of the pollution control boards to impose restitutionary and compensatory damages for environmental harm, saying that prevention and remediation must be at the heart of environmental governance.
Ahead of the UN treaty on plastics, a new report in The Lancet journal on Monday has warned that plastic pollution is an underrecognized threat to the health of both humans and the planet, which must be addressed immediately.
Citing the latest Air Quality Index of 74, CM Rekha Gupta highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to reduce the city's pollution, and claimed that for the first time in a decade, the index has come down to such a satisfactory level.
On World Cancer Day, a look at how the change is being driven by environmental, occupational and/or genetic risk factors.
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