Earth Day Quiz
This Earth Day Quiz has 15 questions, from easy warm-ups to a few real stumpers, each with its answer. Play free, see your score instantly, and share it with friends.
15 questionsMixed (easy → hard)~3 minNo timer
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This Earth Day quiz covers the story behind 22 April, the people who started it, and the science of the planet it celebrates. The 15 Earth Day quiz questions with answers begin with easy warm-ups, such as the date itself, and build to tougher ones on climate agreements, fresh water and the ozone layer. Each answer comes with a short explanation, so the quiz doubles as a quick lesson.
It is a good fit for teens and adults, school eco clubs, office green teams and anyone planning a quiz competition on Earth Day. Play alone for an instant score, or project it in a classroom and let teams vote. You will also find a couple of animal and nature questions, so it works for younger players with a little help.
One fact many people miss: the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed by world leaders on Earth Day itself, 22 April 2016, at the United Nations in New York. The very first Earth Day in 1970 drew around 20 million people in the United States and helped lead to new laws on clean air and water. Play the quiz, check the answer key below, and share your score to see who knows the planet best.
Earth Day questions with answers
Show answers
On which date is Earth Day observed every year?
Photo: Pratap Public School, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - 5 June
- 22 April
- 22 March
- 16 September
Answer: 22 April. Earth Day falls on 22 April. 5 June is World Environment Day, 22 March is World Water Day and 16 September is World Ozone Day.
In which year was the first Earth Day held in the United States?
- 1962
- 1972
- 1970
- 1992
Answer: 1970. About 20 million Americans joined rallies and teach-ins on 22 April 1970, the very first Earth Day.
Which US senator is credited with founding Earth Day?
- Gaylord Nelson
- John F. Kennedy
- Al Gore
- Robert Kennedy
Answer: Gaylord Nelson. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proposed a nationwide environmental teach-in, with Denis Hayes as its national coordinator.
Which 1962 book by Rachel Carson, about the harm caused by pesticides, helped spark the modern environmental movement?
- The Sea Around Us
- Walden
- The Population Bomb
- Silent Spring
Answer: Silent Spring. "Silent Spring" warned about DDT and other pesticides and raised the public concern that led to the first Earth Day.
In 2009, the UN General Assembly gave 22 April which official name?
- World Climate Day
- International Mother Earth Day
- Global Green Day
- World Nature Day
Answer: International Mother Earth Day. The UN resolution adopted on 22 April 2009 proclaimed the date International Mother Earth Day.
The Paris Agreement on climate change was opened for signature on Earth Day in which year?
- 2016
- 2015
- 2018
- 2020
Answer: 2016. It was agreed in December 2015, and leaders signed it at UN headquarters in New York on Earth Day, 22 April 2016.
The Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming well below how many degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels?
- 1 degree
- 3 degrees
- 2 degrees
- 4 degrees
Answer: 2 degrees. Its goal is well below 2 degrees Celsius, while pursuing efforts to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees.
Which layer of gas high in the stratosphere shields life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays?
Photo: NASA Earth Observatory, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Nitrogen layer
- Carbon layer
- Hydrogen layer
- Ozone layer
Answer: Ozone layer. The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun's UV-B radiation. The 1987 Montreal Protocol phased out the chemicals that were thinning it.
Which of these is NOT a renewable source of energy?
- Solar
- Coal
- Wind
- Geothermal
Answer: Coal. Coal is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years, so it cannot be replaced on a human timescale. The others are naturally replenished.
Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas releases mainly which greenhouse gas?
Photo: Alfred T. Palmer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Carbon dioxide
- Oxygen
- Helium
- Argon
Answer: Carbon dioxide. Carbon in the fuel combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, the biggest driver of human-caused global warming.
Roughly how much of all the water on Earth is fresh water?
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - About 12 percent
- About 30 percent
- About 50 percent
- About 2.5 percent
Answer: About 2.5 percent. Around 97 percent is salty ocean water. Of the small fresh share, most is locked in ice caps and glaciers.
Which is the largest tropical rainforest in the world?
Photo: Phil P Harris., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons - The Congo rainforest
- The Amazon rainforest
- The Daintree rainforest
- The Sundarbans
Answer: The Amazon rainforest. The Amazon covers parts of nine South American countries and territories (including French Guiana) and is home to around one in ten known species on Earth.
Which animal is the largest known to have ever lived on Earth?
- African elephant
- Whale shark
- Blue whale
- Argentinosaurus
Answer: Blue whale. Blue whales can grow to about 30 metres and weigh more than any dinosaur known from fossils.
Earth Hour, when people switch off their lights for one hour, began in which city in 2007?
- Sydney
- London
- Toronto
- Mumbai
Answer: Sydney. WWF launched Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia in 2007. It is now held every March in thousands of cities.
Which phrase best sums up the popular "3 Rs" of waste?
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Rinse, Repeat, Restore
- Repair, Return, Rent
- Recover, Refill, Replant
Answer: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reducing comes first because waste that is never created needs no energy to reuse or recycle.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Earth Day questions with answers?
On this page. Play the quiz above for an instant score, then open the answer key below to see all 15 Earth Day trivia questions and answers, each with a one-line explanation. Teachers can use the key to run the quiz aloud.
How many questions are in this Earth Day quiz?
There are 15 multiple-choice questions with four options each. They range from easy facts about the day to harder questions on climate science and environmental history, and take about four minutes.
Can I play the Earth Day quiz online for free without signing up?
Yes. It is free to play with no login or email needed. Press start, answer the questions and see your score straight away, then share the result with friends or classmates.
Is this quiz good for an Earth Day quiz competition at school?
Yes. The questions are factual and age-appropriate for secondary students, and the explanations give teachers talking points after each answer. Split the class into teams and let each team answer on one device.