The idea of Earth Day emerged in 1969, inspired by a growing awareness of environmental concerns. Celebrated each year on April 22, the day highlights the importance of protecting the natural world. The first official Earth Day was organized in 1970 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who hoped to bring environmental issues to the attention of politicians and the broader public.
Nelson was moved to action after witnessing the devastation caused by the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California. At the time, it was the largest oil spill in United States waters.
Here are some words to remember on Earth Day (and really, every day).
biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. Earth Day promotes protecting ecosystems and species. Healthy biodiversity helps maintain balance in nature and supports human survival too.
climate action
The term climate action gained traction in the 2010s as a rallying call for efforts to address and reduce the impacts of climate change. It鈥檚 also the focus of Goal 13 in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Climate action emphasizes the need for international cooperation, especially in helping developing countries transition to low-carbon economies.
This global push for climate action has also been fueled by individuals. In 2019, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg brought worldwide attention to the issue when she began a solo school strike in Sweden. Her protest quickly grew into a global youth movement, inspiring millions around the world to join her call for urgent environmental action.
climate change
Earth Day often highlights climate change, which many environmental scientists believe is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Understanding and acting on climate issues is key to Earth Day鈥檚 mission. Climate change听refers to a sweeping change in global climate conditions, including weather phenomena, temperature, and sea levels. It鈥檚 caused by an influx of greenhouse gases, mostly from fossil fuel emissions around the world. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and change weather patterns, warming many areas of the globe and causing erratic season and weather events.听Climate change听is often used interchangeably with global warming, but this use is subject to debate. Though global warming听used to be the more popular expression among environmental scientists,听climate change is now preferred because it encompasses effects beyond the rising temperatures around the globe.
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Conservation is the protection of听natural resources like forests, water, and wildlife. Earth Day reminds us to value these resources and take action to preserve them.
Green New Deal
The Green New Deal (GND) was a first-of-its-kind plan to fight climate change, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in February 2019. To date, however, the Green New Deal has not been enacted into law in the United States. Essentially, it鈥檚 a program of investments into clean-energy jobs and infrastructure, and shifting away from fossil fuels.
The plan takes its name from Franklin Delano Roosevelt鈥檚听New Deal in the 1930s, which was a series of programs and economic reforms to provide relief from the Great Depression. Green, here, refers to something 鈥�environmentally听sound听or听beneficial.鈥� (Learn more about its name here.)
pollution
Earth Day raises awareness of pollution 鈥� whether it鈥檚 in the air, water, or land 鈥� and its harmful effects on people, wildlife, and the planet. Reducing pollution is central to protecting the earth.
recycling
Recycling helps reduce waste, conserve raw materials, and save energy. Earth Day encourages recycling as a simple, daily action that helps the environment.
sustainability
Sustainability is all about meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It’s about being mindful about the environment and not depleting natural resources in order to support ecological balance for the future. Earth Day promotes sustainable living 鈥� like reducing waste, conserving energy, and protecting ecosystems.
tipping point
In its 2014 report on climate change, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defined tipping point as “irreversible change in the climate system.” As temperatures continue to rise, scientists say societies are at an increased risk of crossing a point of no return regarding damage to the environment. For example, if Greenhouse and Antarctic ice sheets melt, the ice cannot be regained; this is an irreversible tipping point that would affect the entire globe.
Want to know some other environmental words? Check out these amazing weather words.
