The movement continues.

This year is the 46^th year of Earth Day, a day that inspires, ignites passion, and motivates people to action. In 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated with a mission to channel human energy toward environmental issues. Today, the mission still remains.

The Earth Day Network continues to lead with groundbreaking ideas and powers of example. They encourage people everywhere to perform “Acts of Green.” Eating less meat, buying local produce,  cleaning up beaches, and reducing your carbon footprint are all examples of Acts of Green you can easily accomplish. So far they have reached over 2 billion recorded Acts of Green and are striving to hit 3 billion soon.

The theme of Earth Day 2016 marks the start of the four-year countdown to Earth Day’s 50^th anniversary by focusing on planting new trees.  The Earth Day Network is pledging to plant 7.8 billion trees worldwide over the next 4 years – or one tree for every person on earth.

“That’s incredibly ambitious, but we believe this down-payment must be made in order to combat climate change and keep our most-vulnerable eco-systems from facing extinction” a spokesman from the Earth Day Network said.

Celebrities, businesses, and other high-profile figures are all acknowledging the holiday and encouraging the public to join them. Leaders of 130 nations gathered at the United Nations this morning to sign the historic climate deal reached in Paris last December, a major agreement that has the potential to dramatically change how we handle environmental issues. Large companies are also celebrating Earth Day, with Target giving out reusable bags and offering free samples of sustainable products, and Eddie Bauer honoring to plant one tree for every $1 donation made through Sunday.

You can learn more about Earth Day and events in your area by going to http://www.earthday.org/.