Hi,

I’m Denis Hayes, and I coordinated the first Earth Day in 1970.

Fifty years ago, smog choked cities, rivers caught fire and industries secreted toxic sludge directly into our environment. We saw the deplorable state of the Earth, and we took to the streets. Twenty million people—a tenth of the U.S. population at the time—mobilized for the first Earth Day, demanding a new way forward.

And we got it, with a cascade of environmental legislation and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency. We also fundamentally changed how people view the environment—as something to protect and not take for granted. 

Today, we need the same success that Earth Day ushered in 50 years ago. Though we can’t take to the streets, we can still make our voices heard. This Earth Day, for the 50th anniversary, we’re creating 24 hours of action online.

Over the 24 hours of Earth Day, we’ll fill the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more. While Earth Day may be going digital, our goal remains the same: to mobilize the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference. 

Will you join us? Tune in at 9 am Eastern U.S. time on April 22nd for the live coverage.

For action,

Denis Hayes