Earth Day is easy to miss because it never gets a day off work. It’s better as something you plan toward, whether that’s a tree-planting, a school project or a neighbourhood clean-up.
The date never moves: 22 April.
How to use the Earth Day Countdown#
- Check the date. Earth Day is on 22 April every year.
- Choose what to count to. Stay on the next Earth Day, or look a year further ahead.
- Plan around it. The weekday and the weeks left are listed, so you can see at once how it fits your week.
The first Earth Day#
The first Earth Day took place on 22 April 1970. It grew out of a push by US Senator Gaylord Nelson and student organisers, who wanted environmental issues on the national agenda. An estimated twenty million Americans took part, and within a few years the US had created the Environmental Protection Agency and passed major clean air and clean water laws.
It went global in 1990. Earth Day Network says that more than a billion people in over 190 countries now take part in some way each year.
What you can do with the time left#
Pick something small enough to finish. Plant trees with a school or church group. Organise a clean-up of a street, beach or market. Swap a few single-use items for reusable ones. Check your own footprint with a calculator, like our bag footprint calculator.
Groups usually need at least a month to arrange permissions, tools and volunteers, so a countdown is a helpful reminder to start early.
When is Earth Day in the next few years?#
Earth Day is on 22 April every year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 22 April | Thursday |
| 2028 | 22 April | Saturday |
| 2029 | 22 April | Sunday |
| 2030 | 22 April | Monday |
| 2031 | 22 April | Tuesday |
Earth Day and the Paris Agreement#
Earth Day has often been used for political moments. The Paris Agreement on climate change was opened for signature on 22 April 2016, and more than 170 countries signed it on that day, a record for a single day. The first Earth Day in 1970 was organised by Senator Gaylord Nelson and a young activist, Denis Hayes, and inspired the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency later that year.
In 2027, 22 April falls on a Thursday. Schools and offices can keep the focus on the day itself, while community groups tend to schedule clean-ups at the weekend before or after.
Putting numbers on your own impact#
It is easier to act when you can see the effect. Our bag footprint calculator compares plastic and reusable bags, and the vegan footprint calculator estimates what changing your diet saves in carbon dioxide, water and land. Home energy use and travel are usually the largest parts of a household footprint, followed by food.
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks out | Choose a project and check any permissions | Thu 25 February 2027 |
| 4 weeks out | Recruit volunteers and order seedlings or supplies | Thu 25 March 2027 |
| 1 week out | Check the site and forecast | Thu 15 April 2027 |
Quick facts#
- Earth Day Network says more than a billion people in over 190 countries now take part each year.
- The 50th Earth Day in 2020 took place online because of the pandemic.
- A mature tree can absorb roughly 20 to 25 kilograms of carbon dioxide a year, so planting works best as one step among many.
- April is the start of the rainy season across much of southern Nigeria, a good time to plant.
Choosing a project that lasts#
A single clean-up helps for a day, while a habit lasts. Consider a monthly litter pick, a school garden, a recycling collection point or a shared repair day. Ask a local authority which problem it most needs help with, and get its backing. Count what you collect or plant, and report the results to your group the following week, so people can see what their effort achieved and are more likely to come back.
Frequently asked questions#
22 April every year.
No. World Environment Day is on 5 June and is led by the United Nations.
It was started in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson with student organiser Denis Hayes and others.
No. It is an awareness day, not a day off. Schools, community groups and companies hold events, and some cities hold marches or clean-ups on the nearest weekend. You can mark it on your own with a small change, such as a plastic-free week, a tree planted or a switch to a more efficient light bulb.
Earth Hour is run by the WWF each March, when people switch off non-essential lights for an hour to show support for action on climate. Earth Day is on 22 April and covers the whole environmental movement. They are separate events, so you can take part in both.