The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, and has been celebrated each year following on April 22nd. Some people celebrate Earth Week. The original purpose of Earth Day was to inspire people to think and act more environmentally.

First suggested by peace activist John McConnell to be held on March 21, the day of the March equinox

Later suggested by Senator Gaylord Nelson, to be celebrated on April 22

Saint Francis is the patron saint of ecologists

World Environment Day also held on June 6

It takes one million years for glass to decompose in a landfill

Every hour, Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles

If every American household switched to compact florescent light bulbs, the energy saved could power an entire city

Air quality has improved since 1970, with the main pollutant levels, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, lead and particulates like soot and smoke, falling by 64 percent