This countdown updates live in your local timezone.
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day falls on Thursday, April 22, 2027.
About Earth Day
Earth Day is observed on April 22 every year and is given over to environmental protection, sustainability and awareness of the pressures facing the planet. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 in the United States. It was organised by Senator Gaylord Nelson and is regarded as a key moment in the launch of the modern environmental movement. It is now observed in more than 190 countries and is coordinated worldwide by EarthDay.org. Earth Day is not a public holiday, but it is widely marked by community clean-ups, tree planting, environmental teach-ins, marches and corporate sustainability announcements. The Paris Agreement on climate change was opened for signature on Earth Day in 2016. Each year is given a theme, such as "Planet vs Plastics" or "Invest in Our Planet".
The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, drew an estimated 20 million Americans into demonstrations, teach-ins and clean-up events. That was about a tenth of the US population at the time, and the event is widely credited with helping bring about the US Environmental Protection Agency later that year. The international growth of Earth Day is largely credited to Denis Hayes, who organised the original event and went on to chair the Earth Day Network. The Paris Agreement on climate change was opened for signature on Earth Day in 2016, and 175 countries signed on the first day, a record for any UN convention. In the UK, Earth Day tends to be marked through school programmes, broadcast content and corporate announcements rather than large public events, while the wider debate on environmental policy increasingly clusters around the date each year.
Frequently asked questions
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is held on April 22 every year. The date is fixed and does not move with the day of the week. It was chosen for the first Earth Day in 1970 by the organisers, partly because it fell on a weekday in spring that did not clash with university exams or major holidays, which helped student involvement. April 22 has been kept ever since, and it is now marked in more than 190 countries on the same date.
How did Earth Day start?
Earth Day began in the United States in 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, concerned about pollution and environmental damage, proposed a national day of education and action. He recruited a young organiser, Denis Hayes, to coordinate it. On April 22, 1970, an estimated 20 million Americans took part in rallies, teach-ins and clean-ups. The scale of the response is widely seen as a turning point that helped lead to major US environmental laws and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
What do people do on Earth Day?
Earth Day is marked by a wide range of activities focused on the environment. Common ones include community litter pick-ups, tree planting, recycling drives and the restoration of parks and waterways. Schools run lessons and projects, and many organisations hold talks or volunteering events. Some people use the day for marches or campaigns on issues such as climate change and plastic pollution. Companies and governments often time sustainability announcements to the date. Each year also has a central theme that shapes events.
Is Earth Day a public holiday?
Earth Day is not a public holiday in the United States or in most other countries, so April 22 is a normal working day. It is observed as an awareness day rather than an official day off. There are related observances elsewhere, and a number of countries keep their own environmental days. Internationally, the United Nations marks April 22 as International Mother Earth Day, but that too is an observance rather than a holiday.
What is the difference between Earth Day and Earth Hour?
Earth Day and Earth Hour are separate events with a shared environmental purpose. Earth Day is held on April 22 and covers a full day of education, action and campaigning, dating from 1970. Earth Hour is a more recent event, started by the conservation group WWF in Australia in 2007. It takes place on an evening in late March, when people and landmarks switch off their lights for one hour as a symbolic stand for the planet. One is a day of activity, the other a single symbolic hour.