Earth Day is observed annually on April 22. In 2027, Earth Day falls on Thursday, April 22, 2027. The 2026 date (Wednesday, April 22, 2026) has already passed.
Earth Day is coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly the Earth Day Network), headquartered in Washington, D.C.
It is observed in 193 countries and is the largest secular civic observance in the world, with an estimated 1 billion people participating annually.
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History of Earth Day
Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, with organizational support from activist Denis Hayes, on April 22, 1970.
Nelson was inspired by the catastrophic January 28, 1969, Santa Barbara oil spill — at the time the largest oil spill in U.S. history — which released approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil into the Santa Barbara Channel off the California coast.
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, mobilized approximately 20 million Americans — roughly 10% of the U.S. population at the time — across 10,000 schools, 2,000 colleges, and hundreds of cities.
It directly triggered the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established on December 2, 1970, and the passage of the Clean Air Act (1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), and the Endangered Species Act (1973).
Earth Day went global in 1990, when Denis Hayes organized events in 141 countries, mobilizing 200 million people.
The 1990 expansion is credited with accelerating the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which produced the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2020, was conducted entirely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting over 100 million participants across digital platforms — the largest online mass mobilization in history at that time.
Earth Day Themes by Year
| Year | EARTHDAY.ORG Theme |
|---|---|
| 2022 | “Invest in Our Planet” |
| 2023 | “Invest in Our Planet” |
| 2024 | “Planet vs. Plastics” |
| 2025 | “Our Power, Our Planet” |
| 2026 | “Restoring Our Earth” |
The 2027 theme will be announced by EARTHDAY.ORG (earthday.org) in early 2027.
Key Environmental Data Points for Earth Day 2027
The following figures are sourced from peer-reviewed publications and UN agency reports as of 2024.
Climate:
- Global average surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels (WMO State of the Global Climate 2023)
- The past decade (2014–2023) is the warmest on record
- Arctic sea ice minimum extent in September 2023 was the lowest ever recorded by satellite observation
Biodiversity:
- 1 million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction — the highest number in human history (IPBES Global Assessment, 2019)
- Wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73% since 1970 (WWF Living Planet Report 2024)
- 150–200 species go extinct every 24 hours, a rate estimated at 1,000× the natural background extinction rate (UN Environment Programme)
Plastic pollution:
- 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced globally each year (UNEP, 2023)
- 8–10 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually
- Microplastics have been detected in human blood (Nature Medicine, 2022), lung tissue, breast milk, and placentas
Deforestation:
- 10 million hectares of forest are lost annually (FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020)
- The Amazon lost 11,568 km² of forest cover in 2022 (Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, INPE)
How to Participate in Earth Day 2027
- Register an event or find a local Earth Day activity at earthday.org/earth-day-events using the zip code or country search tool.
- Participate in the Great Global Cleanup — EARTHDAY.ORG’s flagship program that has mobilized over 190 million volunteers in 193 countries to remove litter from parks, beaches, rivers, and urban spaces since 2019.
- Take the Earth Day Footprint Calculator at earthday.org/take-action/footprint-calculator to measure your personal ecological footprint across food, transport, housing, and consumption.
- Plant a tree through the Canopy Project, EARTHDAY.ORG’s reforestation program, which has planted over 45 million trees since 2010 in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation.
- Contact elected representatives using EARTHDAY.ORG’s Action Center to advocate for specific environmental legislation currently before local, state, or federal legislatures.
Earth Day vs. World Environment Day
Earth Day (April 22) and World Environment Day (June 5) are distinct observances with different organizational origins and emphases.
| Feature | Earth Day | World Environment Day |
|---|---|---|
| Date | April 22 | June 5 |
| Founded | 1970 | 1972 |
| Organizer | EARTHDAY.ORG | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) |
| Origin | U.S. civic movement | UN Stockholm Conference |
| Primary Focus | Broad environmental action | Single annual environmental theme |
| Participating Countries | 193 | 143+ |
Earth Day 2027 FAQs
When is Earth Day 2027?
Earth Day 2027 falls on Thursday, April 22, 2027—a weekday perfect for workplace sustainability initiatives, school programs, and community action events worldwide.
What is Earth Day, and why is it celebrated?
Earth Day is a global movement dedicated to environmental protection, climate action, and sustainability—mobilizing individuals, governments, and businesses to safeguard our planet for future generations.
Who founded Earth Day?
Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin), who organized the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, after witnessing the devastating 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.
How can I celebrate Earth Day 2027 at home or work?
Celebrate Earth Day 2027 by reducing single-use plastics, starting a compost bin, joining a local cleanup, switching to renewable energy, or hosting a “zero-waste” lunch-and-learn at work.
What is the difference between Earth Day and Arbor Day?
Earth Day (April 22) addresses broad environmental issues like climate change and pollution, while Arbor Day (last Friday in April in the U.S.) focuses specifically on planting and caring for trees—though both promote planetary stewardship.
What is the 2027 Earth Day theme?
Earth Day 2027’s official theme will be announced by EarthDay.org in early 2027; recent themes include “Invest in Our Planet” (2023–2024) and “End Plastic Pollution” (2025), focusing on actionable solutions.
