After 37 Years, The Spirit Of Earth Day Remains the Same

April 18, 2007, On April 22, 1970, the U.S. observed Earth Day for the first time. On that day, 20 million Americans participated in events around the country that focused largely on reducing pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency describes it as “a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire.”

As a student at Middle Tennessee State University in 1970, I took the opportunity to help plan events to observe that first Earth Day. Over the years, I’ve returned to MTSU’s campus many times to support recycling drives, alternative energy efforts and other activities to promote a healthier environment.

Thirty-seven years later, millions of Americans continue to celebrate Earth Day. While the focus has changed somewhat over time, the spirit of Earth Day is the same. Just as we were concerned in 1970 about the impact humans have on our lakes and cities, we are focusing today on the impact we are having on Earth’s climate.

With the release in February of the Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report on climate change, the debate over whether global warming is happening was effectively put to rest. This respected international panel, comprised of the U.S. and 112 other nations, unanimously concluded with 100 percent certainty that climate change is happening. Furthermore, the IPCC concluded with 90 percent certainty that climate change is caused by human activities.

The science is undeniable and the time to act is now. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I have held congressional hearings with the authors of the IPCC’s reports, and I will continue to work to make us better stewards of our environment.

For example, we need to make sure we have the technologies available to meet the challenges of global climate change and to mitigate its effects, and the key to that is innovation. That’s why I have introduced legislation to create an Advanced Research Projects Agency at the Department of Energy. The agency would bring together educational institutions, the private sector and national laboratories to develop and commercialize cutting-edge, clean energy technologies.

Our country also has a responsibility now to improve energy efficiency. The federal government is the single largest energy consumer in the nation, and federal buildings alone accounted for $4.26 billion in energy costs in 2005. The federal government has an obligation to take the lead in demonstrating energy efficient technologies, which boost our energy independence and save tax dollars. I also have introduced legislation to help ensure the federal government is a true leader in this area.

This year’s celebration of Earth Day provides an excellent opportunity for us to come together and find common sense solutions to the problem we face. We must embrace a balanced approach that protects the public health, saves our fragile ecosystems and continues to allow our economy to grow. There is no silver bullet for solving the challenges posed by climate change. But if we work together and capitalize on the American spirit of innovation and ingenuity, we will find solutions.

Ignoring the science on climate change means ignoring the opportunity to improve the future for the next generation. I cannot sit still and let that happen. I hope that on this Earth Day, many more people will join me in working to be better stewards of our environment.