Today marks the 56th celebration of Earth Day, a day set aside to remind people to protect our planet. This year’s theme, like last year, is “Our Power, Our Planet”. The theme focuses attention on clean energy, while also reminding people of the power they have to fight the climate crisis.
Earth Day
Earth Day, which is always held on April 22, started 56 years ago today. It began in the US in 1970 after a bad oil spill. The push to create Earth Day led to a wider environmental movement. By the 1990s, the idea of Earth Day had spread around the world.
Every year, Earth Day organizers arrange thousands of activities around the globe, and encourage others to do the same. Huge numbers of people take part. This year, over 10,000 events are planned.
(Source: Screenshot, EarthDay.org.)
Some activities are celebrations, and some are meant to teach people about environmental problems. Many others, such as trash pickups and planting trees, are aimed at directly solving these problems.
Reasons for Concern
In 2026, there are many reasons to feel like the Earth isn’t being protected very well. US President Donald Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris Climate agreement. His government is rapidly reversing many efforts to tackle the climate crisis. Mr. Trump’s government has also been promoting fossil fuels and attacking renewable energy sources.
Outside the US, other countries are falling behind on their promises to cut carbon emissions. Last year, carbon emissions from fossil fuels were at a record high. It was also the third hottest year ever recorded on Earth.
(Source: [Public Domain], NOAA.)
Wars around the world are also causing serious environmental problems. Large wars like Russia’s war on Ukraine, the war in Sudan, and the US and Israel’s war with Iran don’t only cause waste, death, and destruction. They also release huge amounts of pollution of many kinds.
The first 14 days of the Iran war led to 5 billion metric tons of carbon emissions. That’s 10% of the amount normally created by the entire planet in a year. The Iran war has also led to oil spills, and other serious pollution.
Reasons for Hope
😕
This image has not been loaded because of your cookie choices. To view the content, you can accept 'Non-necessary' cookies.
China, the world’s largest polluter, actually lowered its emissions last year. China is using less coal, and leads the world in solar and wind power. Above, solar panels and wind turbines at a renewable energy farm in Lingwu, China in December, 2025.
Despite those concerns, great progress is still being made. China, the world’s largest polluter, actually lowered its emissions last year. China is using less coal, and leads the world in solar and wind power. No country has sold more electric vehicles than China. Roughly half of the new cars sold in China are electric.
The world is using more electricity than ever before. But now, renewable sources are supplying almost all of the extra needed power. Solar energy grew by 30% last year, and is now supplying more energy than ever before. Battery storage, which allows solar to be used even at night, grew by over 40% last year.
(Source: Miles Wintner [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0], © 2026 Earthday.org.)
And renewable energy sources continue to get cheaper and cheaper. For this reason, renewable energy continues to grow, even in places where the government is not encouraging it, like the US.
This year’s Earth Day theme is a reminder that “power” means more than just clean energy. There is also power in the simple choices we make – our daily efforts and actions. Our combined efforts can be the most powerful force for keeping our planet healthy.