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Senator Gaylord Nelson
Every April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day! This event in support of protecting the environment started in 1970—thanks to U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson.
As a boy, Nelson loved fishing and exploring nature near his home in Wisconsin. When he became a senator in 1963, the U.S. had few laws to prevent the pollution of air and waterways. In 1969, Nelson came up with the idea of Earth Day as a way to get people involved in convincing Congress to take action.
After the first Earth Day, Congress passed several laws to protect the environment. Each year, the event inspires people to join conservation efforts. “Earth Day achieved what I had hoped for and then some,” Nelson said.