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Earth Day

Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet
Earth Day was created in 1970 to spark a revolution against environmental abuse and the organizers, including EDN Board Chairman Denis Hayes, would not take no for an answer, time when rivers caught fire and cities were hidden under dense clouds of smoke. We've made remarkable progress since then in protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment.
Federal Government Actions:
The nation's air is much cleaner today than it was 35 years ago. Over the last three decades, total emissions of six principal air pollutants have decreased by 54 percent. Remarkably, this progress has occurred even while the U.S. Gross Domestic Product increased 187 percent, energy consumption increased 47 percent, and vehicle miles traveled increased 171 percent.

This progress will continue with implementation of the Administration's new Clean Air Interstate Rule, the Clean Air Non-road Diesel Rule, and the President's Clear Skies legislation, which will result in a 70 percent cut in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury emissions from power plants.
The trend of annual loss of wetlands has been reversed, and steady progress is being made on President Bush's Earth Day 2004 Wetlands Initiative, which will create, improve, and protect at least three million wetland acres over the next five years in order to increase overall wetland acres and quality.
Restoration and redevelopment of abandoned industrial sites known as brownfields is accelerating at a faster pace than before due to legislation supported and signed by President Bush early in his first term. Since 2001, nearly 1,500 brownfield sites are now ready for productive reuse, protecting public health, leveraging jobs, and revitalizing communities.
The President is meeting his commitment to reduce the National Park Service maintenance backlog. His 2006 budget request includes a $144 million increase over 2005 enacted levels for maintenance and construction at our parks, meeting his funding commitment of $4.9 billion over five years.
To accelerate our national progress towards a cleaner, healthier, safer environment, Administration policies ensure decision making is based on the best data and science. They also encourage innovation and the development of new, cleaner technologies as the foundation for our nations future.

President Bush also believes in building on America’s ethic of environmental stewardship and personal responsibility through education and volunteer opportunities - providing additional opportunities for States, tribes, local communities, and individuals to be involved in protecting our shared heritage.
Rangers from the National Park Service wave to President George W. Bush and Laura Bush as they depart for Shenandoah National Park where the President discusses his National Park Centennial Initiative. The Initiative provides for the potential of up to a $3 billion infusion of new funds over the next ten years on top of appropriations for normal operations. "The funding starts with a billion-dollar request over the next 10 years that I'll send up to Congress," said President Bush of the largest ever increase for park operations.