Earth Day is widely recognized and celebrated every year on April 22, as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and provoke policy changes. The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water, and Enda ngered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws. Earth Day continues to hold major international significance. In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force. S ignificance of Earth Day - Earth Day is marked on April 22 since 1970. The day is commemorated every year to highlight environmental issues like loss of biodiversity, increasing pollution among others. Exceeding all expectations, 20 million Americans participated in the first Earth Day observance in 1970. Celebrations effectively stopped traffic in New York City when 20,000 people packed Union Square to see Hollywood actor Paul Newman and hear a speech by New York City Mayor John Lindsay, who arrived on an electric bus. Today, Earth Day is the largest secular holiday in the world, with more than 500 million people taking part in 174 countries around the world. Activities to celebrate Earth Day - Earth Day is celebrated by planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs to motivate people to adopt ways for sustainable living. In order to spread awareness among children, programs at school, institutional levels are conducted on this day. Famous quotes on Earth day- The earth has music for those who listen- William Shakespeare The Earth is what we all have in common -Wendell Berry Happy Reading and All Smiles. From the Editor's Desk: Earth Day Earth Day in 2022 - Date, significance, fun facts, activity ideas and quotes Indira Srivatsa Editor | A TO Z INDIA [email protected] +91-7550160116 A TO Z INDIA ● APRIL 2022 ● PAGE 4