What Is Earth Day?

Earth Day Essential Facts

Earth Day Flag
Earth Day Flag. The flag is unoffical, since there is no governing body that speaks for the whole Earth. NASA image.
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on February 08, 2020

Question: What Is Earth Day?

Answer: Earth Day is the day designated for fostering appreciation of the earth's environment and awareness of the issues that threaten it. Actually, Earth Day is one of two days, depending on when you choose to observe it. Some people celebrate Earth Day on the first day of Spring, which is the vernal equinox that occurs on or around March 21st. In 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. Since that time, Earth Day has been officially observed in April. Some people choose to honor Earth Week, which is the week that includes April 22nd. At present, Earth Day is observed in 175 countries, and coordinated by the nonprofit Earth Day Network. The passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act are considered to be products associated with the 1970 Earth Day.

Earth Day and Chemistry

Earth Day and chemistry go hand-in-hand, since so many of the issues that threaten the environment have a chemical basis. Chemistry topics you can investigate for Earth Day include:

  • Green Chemistry
  • Chemicals Used to Remediate Oil Spills
  • Water Chemistry and Water Purification Methods
  • Sources of Anthropogenic Carbon
  • How Biofuels Are Made
  • Environmentally Friendly Lab Demonstrations
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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Is Earth Day?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-is-earth-day-606782. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). What Is Earth Day? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-earth-day-606782 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Is Earth Day?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-earth-day-606782 (accessed March 31, 2023).