Earth Day in the Americas: A Call to Collective Consciousness

Earth on fire

Introduction

Celebrated on April 22, Earth Day began as a global cry for change. In the Americas, the day resonates loudly, given the urgency of environmental challenges faced from Alaska to Patagonia. It is a time to reflect not only on the planet, but on how the American people have acted – or failed to act – to protect it.

The Origin of Earth Day

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 in the United States, conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson, as a response to increasing environmental disasters and the lack of sustainable public policies. The initial event brought together around 20 million Americans in protests, lectures and public actions. The movement gained global strength in the following years and, in 1990, the UN officially recognized the date as an international event.

Today, Earth Day mobilizes more than 1 billion people in more than 190 countries.

The Americas and the environmental crisis

The American continent is home to rich biomes, such as the Amazon, the Pantanal, the Rocky Mountains and the temperate forests of Canada. However, it also has alarming problems:

Accelerated deforestation, especially in South America

Contamination of rivers and oceans

Desertification of agricultural areas

Urban pollution in large cities

Intensive exploitation of mineral resources and fossil fuels

In Latin America, according to a report by ECLAC, 1 in every 3 inhabitants lives in areas at environmental risk.

USA and Canada: progress and contradictions

Although the United States and Canada are leaders in green technology, they face contradictions:

The US is the second largest emitter of CO₂ in the world, behind only China.

Canada, despite advanced environmental policies, is still highly dependent on oil exploration in the Alberta tar sands.

During Donald Trump's first term (2017–2021), the US withdrew from the Paris Agreement. In his current term (2025–), the tension between economic growth and sustainability still persists, reflecting an American dilemma: protect the planet or maintain consumption patterns?

Latin America and the Caribbean: resistance and vulnerability

Latin American countries are rich in biodiversity, but they are also vulnerable to extreme weather events. Droughts in Mexico, floods in Brazil, hurricanes in the Caribbean and forest fires in Chile and Argentina directly affect entire communities.

At the same time, innovative responses emerge:

Costa Rica: clean energy model, with more than 98% of the energy matrix renewable.

Uruguay: a reference in reforestation policies.

Ecuador and Bolivia: inclusion of the law of nature in the Constitutions.

Brazil: under international pressure, resumes Amazon protection actions.

The role of indigenous peoples and social movements

On Earth Day, it is essential to value the ancestral guardians of nature: indigenous peoples. Their sustainable management practices, their worldviews and their protected territories are natural barriers against climate collapse.

Movements such as:

Fridays for Future Latin America

Extinction Rebellion Brazil and Argentina

Guardians of the Forest

demand systemic, bottom-up changes.

Structural challenges

Despite progress, American governments still fail:

Lack of environmental education in school curricula

Low investment in sustainable public transport

Tax incentives for polluting sectors

Weakness in monitoring environmental crimes

Countries on the continent need to review development models, agricultural strategies and even trade relations, such as agreements that encourage large-scale agro-exports at the expense of forests and water sources.

The importance of collective consciousness

Earth Day in the Americas should be more than a symbolic date. It should be a moment of self-evaluation, both for individuals and nations. The questions that are worth asking are:

What do I consume?

Where does my energy come from?

Does my country protect or destroy?

Are the laws enough?

Is there environmental justice for all?

Conclusion: from protest to action

Earth Day is a call for responsible action, intergenerational commitment, and critical hope. The Americas, as a diverse and resilient continent, can and must lead a new stage in the environmental struggle.

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