Earth Day, April 22, 1970 was the birth of the modern environmental movement in the United States. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a senator from Wisconsin, recalls his motivation for proposing the first nationwide environmental protest: "The objective was to organize a national demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda. It was a gamble, but it worked." The first Earth Day led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

It’s been thirty-six years since Earth Day’s founding and although much has been accomplished, we’ve also learned far more about the perilous state of our environment. We are in a race against time to halt the destruction of our atmosphere and achieve a level of sustainability to secure our existence into the future.

The Earth Institute at Columbia University recently held its fourth biennial State of the Planet Conference. Earthscape offers subscribers a chance to listen in as internationally renowned scholars and opinion leaders guide discussions, present ideas, and outline research in this two-day forum, which explores the fundamental requirements of science, economy, governance, and human behavior needed to achieve sustainable development.

Video Seminar for Earthscape Subscribers

State of the Planet 06: Is Sustainable Development Feasible?
The Earth Institute at Columbia University convened the fourth biennial State of the Planet Conference to discuss the feasibility of sustainable development for billions worldwide. Observe while participants explore the fundamental requirements of science, economy, governance and human behavior needed to achieve sustainable development.

Educational Resources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA’s Earth Day site describes the situation in 1970, “a time when rivers caught fire and cities were hidden under dense clouds of smoke.” (How did that make it past the censors?) See their timeline of environmental progress, beginning with the agency’s founding in 1970.

Also from the EPA’s history section, Earth Day Recollections: What It Was Like When the Movement Took Off, by John C. Whitaker, Nixon cabinet member, gives a thorough eye-witness account of that exciting time.

The EPA also offers extensive curricula resources for K-12 environmental education.

The Campus Climate Challenge
College students are leading the way and campus administrators are following. The Campus Climate Challenge aims to transform higher education institutions into model sustainable communities by engaging a million students in work to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions. Over 173 campuses are registered now, and 700 campuses will join by 2009.

The World Resources Institute (WRI)
WRI believes universities are in a unique position to play a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These large institutions can influence their operations, suppliers, student body, staff, and other stakeholders to help curb the most dangerous effects of climate change. They can also provide opportunities for the leaders of the next generation to develop innovative solutions to this global challenge. To provide the context for taking action, WRI has developed a new guide for managing greenhouse gas emissions that details the various steps necessary to manage, track, and reduce emissions. In early May, WRI will release the full report, titled Hot Climate, Cool Commerce: A Service Sector Guide to GHG Management.

Environmental Literacy Council
The Environmental Literacy Council, with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has produced a set of modules for high school history teachers with resources linking fundamental historical concepts to important environmental issues. They offer three professional development modules: War and the Environment; The Westward Expansion; and Ordinary Landscapes.

Ecological Footprint
Take the Ecological Footprint quiz and find out the amount of resources your lifestyle consumes, then learn ways to reduce your shoe size.

Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network's Environmental Education Program offers educators user-friendly tools for integrating environmental issues into core curriculum subjects.