On April 22nd, the world celebrates Earth Day to show their support for protecting the environment! The first Earth Day started in 1970 and since then is celebrated in almost 200 countries! (Which, you would think more countries would get involved, since it does pertain to the ENTIRE planet and all, but I digress...)

This year’s Earth Day is a special one because it also marks the day of the Paris Agreement that was brought about by the United Nations discussing ways to reduce global warming. On Earth Day, the agreement is open for signing. For more details on the agreement, click here.

And If you’d like to sign the climate petition to show world leaders the importance of the agreement, click here! 

What a perfect day for enviornmental reform! One of the themes for Earth Day 2016 is “Trees for the Earth” -- the countdown to Earth Day’s 50th anniversary starts this year and the goal is to plant 7.8 billion trees over the next five years. This will be the first of five major goals in the five-year countdown. #trees4earth

Another campaign that Earth Day Network has started is "End Junk Mail: Help Reduce Unnecessary Waste!” Numerous trees are cut down every year to make junk mail, taking away all of the benefits that living trees give us and wasting water through the paper production process. For more info on the campaign and to make you pledge, click here!

Those are just a few of the campaigns and initiatives that you can learn more about and join too! Check out more here!

But how can everyone get involved in celebrating Earth Day? 

You can do a ton of activities to celebrate! You can get involved in a community garden and plant some trees or flowers. You can even volunteer with an environmental charity. Even going on a hike, or doing a bike ride, or something as simple as eating vegetarian for the day would be a great way to celebrate Earth Day! 

Check out more about Earth Day and Earth Day events happening near you!

Earth Day Network wants to get everyone involved and the Earth needs everyone’s help! So on April 22nd, don’t forget to do your part as a citizen of this little blue dot of ours!

(Photo via WENN)

- Amanda Baltazar, YH Contributing Writer