Is Earth Day Losing Its Impact in the Era of Heightened Climate Change Awareness?

By Anibal Pouros

Every year on April 22, Earth Day arrives with a familiar wave of eco-friendly initiatives, social media campaigns, and corporate pledges to "go green." But as climate change awareness has surged in recent years, a growing number of people are questioning whether Earth Day still holds the significance it once did. With the global conversation around environmental issues now a constant drumbeat, has Earth Day become just another symbolic gesture in a world that’s already awake to the crisis?

The Evolution of Climate Change Awareness

Earth Day, first celebrated in 1970, was a ground-breaking moment. It mobilized 20 million Americans—roughly 10% of the U.S. population at the time—to rally for environmental protection, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and landmark legislation like the Clean Air Act. Back then, the event was a wake-up call, thrusting environmental concerns into the public consciousness.

Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. Climate change is no longer a fringe issue—it’s front and center in global discourse. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 78% of Americans now acknowledge climate change as a "major threat," up from 44% in 2009. Social media platforms like X are flooded daily with posts about melting ice caps, extreme weather events, and corporate sustainability efforts. Governments, corporations, and individuals are under constant pressure to act, with initiatives like the Paris Agreement and net-zero pledges shaping policy and behavior year-round.

In this context, Earth Day’s role as a catalyst for awareness feels less urgent. "We don’t need a single day to remind us of climate change anymore," says environmental activist Maya Torres. "It’s in the news, in our schools, in our politics—every single day. Earth Day feels like a relic of a time when people needed a nudge to care."

Symbolic Gestures vs. Substantive Action

Critics argue that Earth Day has devolved into a platform for performative environmentalism. Corporations often use the day to announce "green" initiatives that lack depth—think limited-edition reusable bags or one-off tree-planting campaigns. A 2024 study by the Climate Accountability Institute found that 60% of corporate Earth Day pledges from 2020 to 2023 resulted in no measurable reduction in emissions. On social media, users have echoed this sentiment, with one viral post stating, "Earth Day is just a PR stunt now. Companies post about sustainability for 24 hours, then go back to polluting the other 364 days."

Meanwhile, individuals often engage in small, symbolic acts—picking up litter, posting #EarthDay selfies, or attending local events—that, while well-intentioned, pale in comparison to the systemic changes needed to combat climate change. "Planting a tree on Earth Day is great, but it’s not going to stop the Arctic from melting," says Dr. Elena Martinez, a climate scientist at UCLA. "We need policy shifts, not photo ops."

The Counterargument: Earth Day Still Matters

Despite the scepticism, some argue that Earth Day retains value, even in a climate-aware world. The Earth Day Network, which organizes global events, reported that in 2024, over 1 billion people participated in activities across 190 countries. These efforts included clean-ups, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns that led to tangible outcomes, such as the passage of stricter plastic waste regulations in several countries.

"Earth Day still serves as a rallying point," says Sarah Linden, an organizer with the Earth Day Network. "Yes, awareness is higher now, but it’s also a day to channel that awareness into action—whether that’s pressuring lawmakers, educating communities, or inspiring the next generation of activists."

Additionally, Earth Day provides a moment to reflect on progress. In 2025, the event highlighted the global renewable energy boom—solar and wind power now account for 15% of global electricity, up from 5% a decade ago, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). For some, the day remains a celebration of how far we’ve come, even as it underscores how much further we need to go.

A Shift in Focus

Perhaps the issue isn’t that Earth Day is irrelevant, but that its purpose needs to evolve. With awareness no longer the primary challenge, the day could pivot toward driving accountability and action. Imagine an Earth Day where corporations are held to their past promises, where governments announce binding climate policies, and where communities focus on long-term projects rather than one-off events.

Some activists are already pushing for this shift. In 2025, a coalition of environmental groups launched the "Earth Day Accountability Challenge," demanding that companies with net-zero pledges publish detailed progress reports on April 22. The initiative gained traction on social media, with #EarthDayAccountability trending as users called out brands for green washing.

The Bottom Line

Earth Day may not carry the same transformative weight it did in 1970, but its decline in prominence doesn’t mean it’s obsolete. In a world where climate change is a daily reality, the challenge is to redefine the day’s purpose—moving beyond awareness to action, accountability, and systemic change. If Earth Day can adapt to this new reality, it might reclaim its relevance. If not, it risks becoming little more than a nostalgic footnote in the fight for the planet’s future.

Anibal Pouros is the Editor In Chief Of Vertias Expositae.

You can reach him at editor@veritasexpositae.com