50 years of Earth Day: World marks anniversary at home during pandemic

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What is it?

Earth Day is recognized every year to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire an appreciation for the environment.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans - 10% of the population at the time - took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet.

Why does it matter?

Earth Day is a great time to learn more about reducing our carbon footprint. By making choices such as driving less or using alternative commute options, we are making a positive change.

Commuting

- Average one-way commute to work in the U.S. in 2018: 27 minutes

- States with some of the longest average one-way commutes to work: New York (34 minutes) and Maryland (33 minutes)

- States with some of the shortest average one-way commutes to work: North Dakota (18 minutes) and South Dakota (17 minutes)

- Less than 1% (821,201) of people in the U.S. rode a bike to work in 2018

- Almost 3% (4,026,138) people in the U.S. walked to work in 2018

$15.4 billion: Total revenue in 2017 for all electric power generation establishments in the U.S. that generate electricity via renewable energy resources, including hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other non-fossil fuel electric power generation

1,428: Number of hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation establishments in the U.S. in 2017

13,892: Number of employees working in hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation establishments in the U.S. in 2017

Across the 121,520,180 occupied housing units in the U.S. in 2018, it is estimated that:

Utility gas is used to heat more homes than any other fuel source: 58.1 million homes

Less than 2% (2.1 million) of homes were heated by wood.

Less than 1% (208,742) of homes were heated by solar energy

How can we celebrate it?

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge - but also the vast opportunities - of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

Some ways to celebrate Earth Day are: making an effort to walk or bike places more, planting trees and recycling.

How to observe Earth Day 2020 at home

NASA's Earth Day 2020 50th Anniversary Toolkit: https://www.nasa.gov/content/earth-day-2020-50th-anniversary-toolkit

EarthDay.org: https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/

Make Every Day Earth Day in South Carolina: https://www.scdhec.gov/environment/make-every-day-earth-day

What impact has Earth Day made?

The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet's largest civic event. 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 Endangered 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.

Sources: EarthDay.org and Census.gov, U.S. Census Bureau's Economic Census, County Business Patterns, and American Community Survey