Every year on April 22, people around the world join together to celebrate Earth Day. This monumental day is an environmental movement founded in 1970 by former Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson.

Nelson wanted to make people consciously aware of air and water pollution and thought this movement would ensure environmental protection in the political agenda.

Kathleen Staebell, senior in geology, said Earth Day is a great way to bring people together.

“I think Earth Day is a great way for the Iowa State community to come together and remind us all how we can further our efforts in living more sustainably,” Staebell said.

This year, Earth Day’s main method of bringing communities together is environmental and climate literacy. This means the main focus will be on making people aware of concepts such as climate and environmental change.

This education will include learning about environmental and climate laws and policies. It will also accelerate green technologies, jobs and green voters.

In order to achieve global climate and environmental literacy, the Earth Day Network has developed tool kits for local governments, colleges, universities and primary and secondary schools. These tool kits act as teach-ins that are easy to use educational tools.

By gaining knowledge on environmental and climate concepts, people can learn new and easy techniques to save the planet.

“To live more environmentally friendly, I walk or bike as many places as I can,” Staebell said. “I also use as little disposable plastic as possible and purchase products that are the least harmful to the environment.”

Living a sustainable life is especially difficult when there are not any immediate noticeable effects, but it is important to change that way of thinking.

“People tend to think in the short term about the earth,” Staebell said. “It isn’t about us. It’s about the long-term well-being of the place that we live for the short duration of our lives.”

Another way Earth Day is celebrated is by appreciating the beauty of the world.

“I am an advocate for going outside as much as possible,” Rachel Bates, senior in marketing, said. “I enjoy hiking, kayaking, biking and camping, and I believe Earth Day just promotes sustainability and enjoying God’s creation.”

Bates also said she tries to ride her bike or take the bus instead of driving to campus as often as possible, and she tries to be energy efficient in her apartment.

What started out as a day to create awareness of pollution in the environment has turned into a movement that inspires daily changes in how people live to preserve the planet.