Why This Year’s Earth Day is More Important Than Ever

Photo by Marc Zimmer on Unsplash

April 22, 2020 marks 50 years since the first Earth Day was organized by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson with the help of activist Denis Hayes. The first event in 1970 saw a protest of roughly 20 million people and kick-started the foundation of the environmental movement of today. It brought about such laws as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.¹

However, in 2020, with all we know about climate change and our impact on the environment, it seems like we are not even close to doing enough to protect ourselves and the planet.

The consequences of doing nothing to combat climate change will be severe. We know this. Yet governments continue to drag their feet when it comes to investing in green energy. When it comes to conserving natural habitats and wildlife. When it comes to upholding legislation that holds companies responsible for protecting us from their environmental impact.

With the pandemic sweeping the world and lawmakers that seem more concerned about their own investments than protecting the future of their constituents and the future of their countries, this year’s Earth Day is more important than ever.

Here’s why, and what we can do to help.

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