World Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. On this day, events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The Day was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year. The first celebration was held in the US after a devastating oil spill, and is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern environmental movement.

Trees For The Earth is the 2016 theme.

Every year, more than one billion people across the world mark the event by showing support for environmental protection. Festivals, rallies and outdoor events are held in nearly 200 countries – often, with the support of A-list celebrities and political leaders.

During the Paris talks world leaders agreed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, with developed countries providing $100 billion (£70 bn) of public and private finance to help developing countries by 2020. Both China and the United States – the world’s top carbon dioxide emitters – have promised to sign the agreement at the upcoming UN ceremony on Earth Day.

Did You Know?

• If you drill a tunnel straight through the Earth and jumped in, it would take you about 42 minutes to get to the other side.
• Earth was formed somewhere around 4.54 billion years ago and is currently the only known planet to support life – and lots of it.
• Earth is the only planet not named for a mythological god or goddess. The other seven planets in the solar system were named after Roman gods or goddesses.
• It takes 8 minutes and 20 seconds for light to travel from the sun to the earth.
• The gravity between the Earth and the Moon causes the tides on Earth.
• The Earth’s core is about as hot as the sun.
• Earth is the only place in the Solar System where water can be present in its three states: solid, liquid and vapour.