Since 1970, the nation has observed Earth Day each year on April 22.

At the time, the idea of preserving and protecting the environment enjoyed broad, bipartisan support.

The divide in opinions on issues such as the impact of chemical use, carbon emissions, pollution and basic resource conservation existed, but it wasn’t a divide along political lines. There were those who disagreed with the impact we humans could have on the entire planet, but they didn’t align themselves as conservative or liberal as a result.

President Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act into law in 1969 in response to growing awareness of human activities on the long-term state and sustainability of the planet.

In 1970, Nixon also created the Environmental Protection Agency through executive order later ratified in Congress.

The seeds that would one day grow into Earth Day began with a proposal from U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wisconsin. In 1969, Nelson began advocating for a national teaching event on the environment.

Nationwide events were initially intended to resemble college sit-ins and aimed to spark debate, but the format fell flat due to lack of opposition to the idea that pollution had long-term effects at the time.

April 22 was chosen as the date for Earth Day, as it fell between most colleges’ spring breaks and final exams.

Enter prominent Madison Avenue advertising executive Julien Koenig who was recruited to help promote the event and coined the name Earth Day.

As part of the first Earth Day, first lady Pat Nixon and Nelson planted a tree on the White House lawn. The following week, President Nixon proclaimed the week of April 22 Earth Week to commemorate the day.

On this Earth Day, 55 years later — regardless of opinions on climate change, human impact on the environment in general or political policy — let us reflect not on the disagreements, but on the value of conserving a healthy planet and unmarred spaces for future generations.

— JP