Every Day Is Earth Day: Evidence on the Long-Term Impact of Environmental Activism

We use variation in weather to study the long-term effects of activism during original Earth Day on attitudes, environmental outcomes, and children’s health. Unusually bad April 22, 1970 is associated with weaker support for environment 10 20 years later, particularly among those who were school aged 1970. Bad also higher levels carbon monoxide air greater risk congenital abnormalities infants born following decades. These results identify benefits volunteer activity that would be impossible until after volunteering occurs. (JEL D64, D91, Q51, Q53, Q54)