Perspectives: Earth Day 2021

April 22 is Earth Day, which is a day intended to demonstrate support for environmental preservation. Earth Day was founded in 1970 by nonprofit group Environmental Teach-In, Inc., an organization which campaigned heavily in Congress and was integral to the passage of the Clean Air Act. Activists typically stage environment and climate demonstrations on Earth Day, but this year, climate protests have largely gone virtual due to the pandemic. Some activists, not satisfied with President Joe Biden's climate agenda, dumped wheelbarrows purportedly filled with cow manure outside the White House during an Earth Day protest Thursday as Biden held a virtual international climate summit, urging world leaders to come together to confront climate change. The U.S. unveiled its goal to slash emissions by 50%-52% from 2005 levels at the summit. Earth Day received wide coverage from across the political spectrum, with outlets on all sides covering Biden's global climate summit. Some left-rated outlets focused on data around climate change, and highlighted experts' tips on ways to combat climate change. Outlets on the right tended to focus on the history of Earth Day, and on the younger generations' growing interest in climate activism; some on the right also highlighted the White House cow manure protests.