As the climate crisis becomes ever more serious, each Earth Day that comes along takes on extra significance. Established in 1970 in the US, the annual event brings together millions of people from around the world in support of the environment, highlighting the urgent action we need to take to save our planet. 

In fact, figures show that global CO2 emissions are now back at above pre-pandemic levels, despite all the talk of “nature healing” when countries around the world went into lockdown. Considering that we need to dramatically cut emissions by an estimated 45 per cent by 2030 to keep global warming to 1.5°C, the magnitude of the challenge we’re facing is clear.

“This Earth Day, we have an important opportunity to challenge our leaders to commit to climate action on a global scale,” Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org, tells Vogue. “We are at the edge of a cliff — if we don’t act now to reduce carbon emissions, there will be no way back.”

Want to ensure that you play your part this Earth Day? Here’s everything you need to know. 

When is Earth Day 2021?

Earth Day has been marked on 22 April every year since its inception in 1970. This year, organisers are calling for three days of climate action, from 20 to 22 April, but expect the entire week running up to Earth Day — sometimes called Earth Week — to be a time when environmental issues take centre stage. 

What is Earth Day about?

Marked by millions around the world, Earth Day is an annual event designed to shine a light on the serious environmental problems we’re facing, from the climate crisis to air pollution and deforestation. For Earth Day 2021, US president Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders to take part in a virtual summit on 22 and 23 April to highlight the urgency for stronger climate action. The event will be live-streamed because of the pandemic.

When was the first Earth Day? 

The original Earth Day was founded by US senator and environmentalist Gaylord Nelson in 1970 to highlight the importance of clean air and clean water, following a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. The event saw an astonishing 20 million people across the US taking to the streets — around 10 per cent of the country’s population at the time.

Earth Day became an international campaign in 1990, when environmental activists asked one of the original organisers, Denis Hayes, to help create another event to spotlight the ecological challenges facing our planet.