Earth Day Network Leads U.S. and Global Activities for 45th Anniversary of Earth Day

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bringing the poverty, development, climate and sustainability communities together to build a broader and more inclusive global movement is the theme of this year's Earth Day, says Kathleen Rogers, President and CEO of Earth Day Network (EDN), an international nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day actions globally and works year round on climate and environmental policy issues and civic engagement. 

Under EDN's leadership, Earth Day has grown from a single-day event to a year-round movement to promote sustainability. EDN also runs A Billion Acts of Green® -- the world's largest environmental service and advocacy program. Momentum is growing with a goal to reach 1.5 Billion Acts of Green on Earth Day – April 22 -- and more than 2 Billion Acts of Green by the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France at the end of 2015.

"Earth Day Network believes that this will be the most environmentally active and important year yet," Rogers says. This year:

-- Two billion people across 192 countries will participate in Earth Day 2015, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

-- Hundreds of major cities around the world from Milan to Houston, Delhi to Des Moines, Rome to Seattle, Dallas to Dubai are organizing actions in their communities.

-- 2,000 mayors are expected to participate in Town Hall meetings where local representatives will discuss sustainability issues and solutions with their communities.

-- Global religious leaders will reinforce the spiritual imperative of protecting the Earth.

-- Hundreds of thousands of schools worldwide will participate in Climate Education Week – an educational program empowering today's students to become tomorrow's climate literate, green economy leaders.

On the National Mall in Washington DC on April 18, 2015, Earth Day Network will partner with Global Poverty Project for "Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day" to present a large-scale public event that for the first time joins the climate movement with movement to end extreme poverty.

April 22 also kicks off the countdown to 2020 and the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day that marks the date by which cities, local governments, countries and corporations have committed to achieving significant progress on reducing the impacts of climate change.

"Where does the world want to be on Earth Day's 50^th anniversary? This is the question we cannot leave to governments alone," Rogers says. "This is our call to action. It's our time to lead."

For more information visit earthday.org

Phone: +1-202-518-0044

SOURCE Earth Day Network