International Mother Earth Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/63/278
About International Mother Earth Day
International Mother Earth Day is the United Nations observance held on 22 April to promote awareness of the relationship between people, other living species and the planet we share.
The UN framing uses “Mother Earth” as a common expression found in a number of countries and regions and links the day to harmony with nature and sustainable development.
Why International Mother Earth Day matters
The observance is useful for discussing environmental interdependence rather than a single environmental problem. Climate, biodiversity, land, water, production and consumption all affect the systems that support human and non-human life.
The UN designation should not be used to erase the different cultural, Indigenous or spiritual meanings attached to Earth and nature. A responsible page keeps the institutional wording separate from claims about any community’s beliefs.
History of International Mother Earth Day
On 22 April 2009, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/63/278 designating 22 April as International Mother Earth Day.
UN records describe Bolivia as initiating the observance. A 2010 General Assembly meeting stated that International Mother Earth Day had first been celebrated on 22 April 2009.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Plurinational State of Bolivia
UN General Assembly meeting coverage credits Bolivia with initiating the observance.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/63/278
First documented observance
UN General Assembly meeting coverage in 2010 states that International Mother Earth Day was first celebrated on 22 April 2009.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Mother Earth Day
Learn how a local watershed, habitat or food system connects human activity with wider ecosystems.
Use a credible environmental or scientific source to examine one measurable local issue rather than repeating unsourced global claims.
Join a restoration, waste-reduction or community stewardship activity that follows local environmental guidance.
Pair awareness with practical choices while avoiding claims that individual action alone can solve system-level environmental problems.
International Mother Earth Day Facts
International Mother Earth Day is observed on 22 April.
The UN General Assembly designated the day through A/RES/63/278 in 2009.
The resolution was adopted on 22 April 2009.
UN records identify Bolivia as the country that initiated the observance.
The UN framing emphasizes interdependence among humans, other living species and the planet.
International Mother Earth Day Messages
On International Mother Earth Day, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
May International Mother Earth Day inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate International Mother Earth Day by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
Wishing everyone marking International Mother Earth Day a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
International Mother Earth Day Quotes
“Humanity is acting like Mother Earth’s delinquent child.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/63/278 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Meetings Coverage — International Mother Earth Day, 22 April 2010 (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Mother Earth Day?
22 April The documented recurrence rule is: 22 April.
Does International Mother Earth Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Mother Earth Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations international environmental observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Mother Earth Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Plurinational State of Bolivia.
Is International Mother Earth Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations international environmental observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Is International Mother Earth Day the same as Earth Day?
They share the 22 April date and overlapping environmental themes, but this guide treats the UN-designated International Mother Earth Day as its own institutional observance rather than collapsing it into every event commonly called Earth Day.
When did the UN designate International Mother Earth Day?
The UN General Assembly adopted A/RES/63/278 on 22 April 2009, designating 22 April as International Mother Earth Day.
Why is it on 22 April?
The UN resolution designates 22 April, but the reviewed institutional sources do not establish a separate historical reason for choosing that exact date.
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These observances are also listed on April 22, 2027.
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