Happy Earth Day! (April 22). Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, marking the birth of the modern environmental movement. Proposed by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental threats, the inaugural event saw 20 million Americans participate in rallies, teach-ins, and demonstrations across the country.
The massive, nationwide turnout led directly to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
While initially a U.S. event, it went global in 1990, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries.
Earth Day is a time for the celebration of accomplishments, a reminder to stay on course toward the environmental goals that you do have in place, and a time to set new goals around indoor air quality, energy and water conservation, and waste reduction.
The Pulse of the Planet
Earth Day is a day to take the “pulse” of the planet. According to Earth.org, the following are the 10 biggest environmental problems of 2026:
1. Global warming from fossil fuels. Did you know last month was the hottest March ever recorded in the contiguous U.S., going back 132 years?
2. Politicization of the climate crisis. Backtracking on environmental commitments.
3. Biodiversity loss. More than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and are likely to be lost within 20 years.
4. Plastic pollution. The cumulative amount of plastic in the ocean could reach 600 million tons by 2040.
5. Deforestation. Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. Land is cleared to raise livestock or to plant other crops that are sold, such as sugar cane and palm oil.
6. Air pollution. In the U.S., researchers found that air pollution from the oil and gas industries are attributable to 91,000 premature deaths, 10,350 preterm births and 216,000 childhood-onset asthma and 1,610 cancer cases every year in the country.
7. Food waste. A third of the food intended for human consumption—around 1.3 billion tons—is wasted or lost. This is enough to feed 3 billion people. Food waste and loss account for approximately one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
8. Melting ice caps and sea level rise. The climate crisis is warming up the Arctic more than twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet. Today, sea levels are rising more than twice as quickly as they did for most of the 20th century because of increasing temperatures on Earth.
9. Ocean acidification. Global temperature rise has not only affected the surface, but it is also the main cause of ocean acidification. One of the biggest environmental problems from ocean acidification is coral bleaching and subsequent coral reef loss.
10. Traditional agriculture. Studies have shown that the global food system is responsible for up to one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, of which 30 percent comes from livestock and fisheries. Crop production releases greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide through fertilizers.
Earth.org also cites soil degradation, food and water insecurity, fast fashion and textile waste, artificial intelligence, overfishing, and cobalt mining (a key component of battery materials that power electric vehicles) as top environmental concerns in 2026.
Best Industry Practices
Kudos to those many hotel companies and suppliers who are tackling these issues head on. Common best practices in these companies include: leadership and inspiration from the very top, the investment in sustainability champions to lead the carrying out of goal-setting initiatives, a willingness to invest significantly in products and technologies that provide from immediate to long-term progress, and the courage to keep pressing forward in spite of political headwinds.
May Earth Day be the catalyst that takes you to the next level in your pursuit of pure sustainability. Together, we can help preserve and improve upon the nature that we all share. And of course, make every day Earth Day.
Never hesitate to share your progress with me. I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
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