Monday numbers: Earth Day 2024 and the environmental challenges posed by plastics

[{"selector":"#anim-460de06d-e1f0-4054-b5be-ba74f1a85d3f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e711475c-1f3d-4a60-85d5-e0d640d5ae5d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Earth Day, conceived in 1970 by Senators Nelson and McCloskey, merges student activism with environmental awareness.

[{"selector":"#anim-fbdd7085-7aaf-4f63-b2b7-83d9b95a195f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b37a02a-4b31-4576-8393-bee6b3d6e35f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 20 million Americans participated in the inaugural Earth Day, marking a significant moment in environmental advocacy.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a5b5100-1b5e-4139-b56c-c5642e823b0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3789056-7877-4a7d-8f18-341d122d57b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.10059%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Earth Day 1970 spurred landmark policy changes, including the creation of the EPA and key environmental laws.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d716890-7f9a-4c78-897f-015ab3783470","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3884039c-86b5-4970-a48a-421f9024425e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Environmental threats today, including climate change and plastic pollution, demand urgent action

[{"selector":"#anim-e6442d1f-0668-411b-894e-f3c4d5b8d3b4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3ca0297-77aa-49b3-a75f-3a87cae13635","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The global "60X40 movement" aims to reduce plastic production by 60% by 2040, addressing pressing environmental concerns.

[{"selector":"#anim-8969d161-2012-4fb4-bdae-c755f10a637c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e478a0aa-accc-4e48-9098-57c0c371c43c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Key facts highlight the scale of the plastic crisis, from billions of tons produced to microplastics contaminating oceans and drinking water.