Earth Day was inspired by student anti-war protests and concerns over a substantial oil spill in California in 1969. In response to these events, U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin) tapped U.S. Rep. Pete McCloskey (California) to co-chair a movement for teach-ins on college campuses. They enlisted the help of student-activist Denis Hayes to organize the teach-ins about human and environmental health.

Their work led to the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, when 20 million demonstrators across the country advocated for more protection against environmental pollutants.

Today, environmental issues are still a concern, and Earth Day is one of the most recognized observances worldwide. Earth Day is designed to encourage people to celebrate nature and generate national and local policy changes to build a safe, healthy and clean planet for future generations.

Participate in Earth Day by volunteering at a cleanup, joining a parade, or organizing your own event, and help keep Oakland County green. View upcoming events and add your own event to our interactive map using the attached form.

Learn more about Oakland County’s strategic goal for environmental sustainability and the work of the Office of Sustainability at OakGov.com/sustainability.

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