On April 22, 1970, 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day in America. Now, over one billion people globally celebrate it. The Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 triggered environmental activism and inspired Earth Day. Activists, led by Senator Gaylord Nelson, organized events nationwide on April 22, 1970, advocating for environmental reform. The movement united diverse groups, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and significant environmental laws by 1970’s end. In 1990, Earth Day went international, involving 200 million people in 141 countries. Today, over two billion people annually celebrate Earth Day.
