Earth Day and NRDC

On April 22, 1970, some 20 million people across the country rallied to protest the state of the planet. Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River, a dump for steel mills and other industries, had caught fire. A massive oil spill swamped the coast off Santa Barbara, and concerns about smog, DDT and water pollution were rising. The very first Earth Day was a grassroots revolution that spurred Congress to create America’s core environmental protection laws, and continues to be a day of celebration and activism worldwide.

NRDC was also born in 1970, as a group of lawyers dedicated to defending the health of the planet and its people. Since then, we’ve fought -– and won -– some historic environmental battles. Explore the history of our victories below!

Explore our progress from 1970 to the present

Recent Earth Day Posts

Earth Day 2013 - Pebble Mine Opposition Outlasts Anglo American and Rio Tinto CEOs
posted by Joel Reynolds, 4/22/13
Today is Earth Day -- a day to celebrate and strengthen our year-round commitment to protecting the ...
Earth Day 2013: Say No to KXL Tar Sands Pipeline
posted by Frances Beinecke, 4/22/13
Today is Earth Day and, barring any last-minute change, it's also the final day the public can send ...
Why We Save Whales
posted by Peter Lehner, 4/19/13
There are few places on Earth where the waters are warm enough, safe enough, clean, quiet, and abundant ...

 

For Your Earth Day Table

Printable wallet cards and guides from NRDC

Mercury in Fish
A handy wallet card guide to eating fish safely.

Shop Smart, Save Forests
A shopper's guide to buying forest-friendly tissue, paper towels and toilet paper.

Nursery Shopping Checklist
Set up a safe, earth-friendly nursery for your baby.

A Dozen Things You Can Do
A colorful brochure featuring 12 simple things you can do to keep yourself, and the planet, healthy.

Five Daily Tips for Energy Efficiency
Save money and energy at home.

More from NRDC

This Green Life
NRDC's monthly column on sustainable living.

Green Eating Guide
Tips for making healthy food choices for you and the planet.

Recycling 101
A refresher course in the basics, and tips on how to boost your recycling game.

The NRDC FAQ
Got a burning environmental question? Chances are you'll find the answer in our FAQ.

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Earth Day Videos

YouTube Video
Watch the Video »
Policy experts share their thoughts about the 40th Earth Day.

 

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