About Earth Day Network

Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship worldwide. Our mission is to build broad-based citizen support for sound, workable, and effective environmental policies.

Earth Day has been the first experience in environmental citizenship for millions of people around the world for over three decades. What started as a series of teach-ins planned by a small team of dedicated volunteers has turned into a global movement. Earth Day is the only event celebrated simultaneously around the world by people of all backgrounds, faiths, and nationalities. EDN’s international network of 5,800 groups in 184 countries, over 1200 groups in the United States, and 95,000 K – 12 educators organize millions every year to learn about the environment and take action to protect it.

Our programs meet global challenges through outreach to our network of educators, grassroots organizations, and citizenry:

  • To improve environmental education. We offer tools for integrating environmental issues into core curriculum subjects.
  • To build alliances. We connect and partner with other organizations and agencies working towards common goals of public involvement in environmental policy.
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  • To encourage citizen action. We promote public and private action around specific environmental issues.
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  • To build capacity. We supply resources, tools, and direct assistance for developing and implementing successful Earth Day events.
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  • To engage corporations in the environmental dialogue. We challenge companies to progress by improving environmental and community well-being.
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EDN places equal emphasis on environmental citizenship before and after Earth Day as we do for the day itself. We have designed campaigns that provide individuals with simple but affecting ways to act on their initial interest in the environment and to build a sustained commitment to public participation and advocacy. We have formed strategic alliances that allow us to mass market healthy communities in the U.S. – bringing new people into the movement. EDN strives not only to raise awareness, but to transform that awareness into positive action.