Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Earth Day is commemorated today, April 22, as it is every year. The theme of the 2025 International Earth Day is “Our Power, Our Planet.” This theme calls on everyone to unite in promoting renewable energy, aiming to triple its use by the year 2030.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, which began in 1970. Each year carries a different theme, but all remain focused on environmental issues and climate change. In 2024, for example, the theme was “Planet vs. Plastics.” The goal was to combat the global plastic crisis that is threatening the preservation of nature.
The global community was encouraged to reduce plastic production by 60 percent by 2040. Earth Day organizers also aspire to create a future with significantly less plastic—not only to reduce waste but also to protect human and environmental health.
According to the Earthday.org website, the 2025 theme “Our Power, Our Planet” was chosen because the development of renewable energy is crucial for humanity. Renewable energy sources—such as wind, solar, water, and geothermal—are abundant in nature. These sources continuously regenerate and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. Transitioning to renewable energy is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as it produces electricity without emitting carbon dioxide.
The origin of Earth Day traces back to the concerns of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson about the environment. In January 1969, he witnessed the devastating impact of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
He then presented his idea to the federal government and announced his plan to hold educational events on college campuses, which was shared with national media. Senator Nelson later enlisted a young activist, Denis Hayes, to help spread the idea more broadly to the public.
Hayes chose April 22 for the action, which evolved into what is now known as Earth Day. The first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the enactment of various environmental laws. By 1990, Earth Day had gone global, mobilizing 200 million people across 141 countries.
