America’s first Earth Day celebration in 1970 mobilized millions of Americans to take action for clean air, clean water, and protected open spaces. This nationwide activation resulted in the passage of some of the most important environmental legislation in the United States like the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act, and helped launch the modern environmental movement.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and we’re taking the week leading up to this significant milestone to celebrate our 49 year legacy of fighting for our environment. From helping to pass some of the first recycling laws in the country in the 70s to winning lawsuits against big polluters in the 80s and defending against industry attacks to the Endangered Species Act in the 90s, the Student PIRGs have been at the forefront of the campus environmental movement.
While it’s important to recognize the impressive progress we’ve made over the decades, we know that we still have significant environmental challenges ahead of us. From global warming to single-use plastic, our generation faces global threats that demand the same level of energy from 1970 and a unified response from students around the world.
If you’re ready to get involved, sign-up to hear about webinars, volunteer events, and more on our environmental campaigns! If you still need a little inspiration, scroll through some of our favorite environmental victories over the years.