Earth Day 2026: History, significance and all you need to know
Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day marks the rise of modern environmental activism. Today, it stands as a reminder that small lifestyle changes and policy shifts together can shape a healthier, greener future.
Earth Day is observed every year on April 22 to raise awareness about environmental protection and inspire action toward a healthier planet.
Earth Day began in 1970 in the United States, led by Gaylord Nelson, a senator who was deeply concerned about environmental damage. Inspired by the student protest movement, he envisioned a national day to educate people about pollution and ecological issues.
On April 22, 1970, nearly 20 million Americans took to the streets, marking one of the largest civic demonstrations in history. This movement eventually led to the creation of key environmental laws and the establishment of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
GLOBAL EXPANSION
By 1990, Earth Day went global, involving over 140 countries. Today, more than 190 countries, including India, participate, making it one of the largest environmental movements worldwide.
SIGNIFICANCE OF EARTH DAY
Earth Day is not just symbolic it plays a critical role in:
Raising awareness about climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss
Encouraging sustainable practices like reducing plastic use and conserving water
Mobilising governments and organisations to take policy-level action
Inspiring individuals to adopt eco-friendly habits in daily life
WHY EARTH DAY IS IMPORTANT IN 2026
With rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and increasing pollution levels, Earth Day is more relevant than ever. Issues like climate change, deforestation, and water scarcity are directly impacting countries like India, making awareness and action urgent.
Shruti Ajmera Reddy, CEO and Founder of BeWild by Beforest says soil health is often spoken in terms of nutrients and fertility. But for us, soil is a living system comprising its structure, biology and chemistry, and we are stabilising this system. When all three are balanced, sugar builds up slowly and steadily in the coffee cherry, which translates into a richer aroma, better clarity, depth, and a more vibrant, integrated acidity in the cup.
One way we understand whether the soil system is balanced is by looking at the fungal-to-bacterial ratio. In the forest, we found that this ratio is stable, reflecting a self-regulating ecosystem. The coffee from these areas is consistently clean and balanced.
In the areas where we’ve intervened through permaculture, we’re seeing higher fungal-to-bacterial ratios. These lots tend to produce coffees with greater sweetness, structure, and depth. But when we sampled neighbouring conventional plantations, the ratios dropped significantly. That’s typically where soil health has been reduced to inputs and outputs.
Our journey is guided by the belief that good food comes from good practices, and it need not come at the cost of our forests.
"Soil is not just a medium to grow food; it is the living system that determines what the food ultimately becomes. The biological life within soil governs how nutrients are accessed, transformed, and ultimately delivered to the food we consume. When soils are alive and balanced, they produce crops that are not only higher yielding, but nutritionally richer and more resilient.
The real challenge today is that food systems have optimized for uniformity and yield, often at the cost of this biological integrity. Restoring it requires a conscious shift towards practices that rebuild microbial life, improve nutrient efficiency, and reduce excessive chemical dependence. At its core, soil health is not an environmental agenda; it is a human health imperative. The future of nutrition will not be decided in laboratories alone, but in how effectively we regenerate the living systems beneath our feet.
That connection between soil biology and plate nutrition is where agriculture, health, and sustainability converge most meaningfully today globally." says Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President, IPL Biologicals
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Reduce single-use plastic
Save water and electricity
Plant trees and support green initiatives
Spread awareness on social media
Earth Day reminds us that protecting the planet is a shared responsibility. Small actions, when multiplied across millions, can create meaningful change.