In 1970, Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and Republican U.S. Representative Pete McCloskey came together to launch Earth Day, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about environmental issues. Inspired by the student anti-war movement and the growing concern about air and water pollution, Senator Nelson proposed a teach-in on college campuses to address these issues. With the help of young activist Denis Hayes, the movement gained momentum and on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to demonstrate against the impacts of industrial development.

The first Earth Day had a significant impact on national policy in the United States. By the end of 1970, it led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of several environmental laws, including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Clean Air Act. Two years later, the Clean Water Act was also passed by Congress. These legislative changes marked a turning point in environmental protection and regulation.

As we commemorate Earth Day 2024, it is clear that environmental degradation has become an even more serious threat than it was in 1970. Climate change, sea-level rise, species extinction, and pollution are just some of the pressing issues we face today. One particularly urgent concern highlighted by Earth Day 2024 is the proliferation of plastics. The global "60X40 movement" aims to reduce global plastic production by 60% by 2040.

Earth Day 2024 sheds light on the alarming facts about plastic pollution:

• 9.1 billion tons of plastic have been produced since 1950, with 79% still in landfills or the natural environment.
• Americans purchase 50 billion plastic water bottles each year.
• Globally, an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags are used annually.
• Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups each year.
• 14 million tons of plastic end up in the world's oceans annually, including dangerous microplastics.
• There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic in the world's oceans.
• By 2050, the weight of all plastic in the oceans is projected to exceed the weight of all fish.
• Each American ingests an average of over 70,000 microplastic particles from their drinking water each year.
• Terrestrial microplastic pollution is up to 23 times greater than marine plastic pollution.
• Biologically-active slow sand filters can remove up to 99.9% of microplastics from drinking water.
• Reducing consumption of single-use plastics and adopting eco-friendly alternatives could reduce annual flows of plastic into the oceans by 80% by 2040.

Earth Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address environmental issues. It is a call to action for individuals, communities, and governments to work towards a sustainable future. By taking steps to reduce plastic pollution and protect our planet, we can make a positive impact for generations to come.