[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 24325-24326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09870]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 79 / Wednesday, April 24, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 24325]]


                Proclamation 8962 of April 19, 2013

                
Earth Day, 2013

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                As the world's technological leader and home to some of 
                its most breathtaking natural wonders, America has a 
                special responsibility to safeguard our environment. On 
                Earth Day, we celebrate our rich legacy of stewardship 
                and reflect on what we can do, as individuals and as a 
                Nation, to preserve our planet for future generations.

                The first Earth Day marked a renewal of America's 
                global leadership in conservation. It began as a 
                national discussion on pollution and came to embody a 
                simple truth: that nothing is more powerful than 
                millions of voices calling for change. In only a few 
                years, those voices rang as clear in our laws as on our 
                streets--from the creation of the Environmental 
                Protection Agency to landmark legislation for clean air 
                and water. These successes continue to bring health and 
                prosperity to communities nationwide, demonstrating 
                that our economy can grow alongside a healthy 
                environment.

                As environmental challenges evolve with a changing 
                world, my Administration is committed to meeting them. 
                During my first term, we launched the America's Great 
                Outdoors initiative, made historic progress restoring 
                precious ecosystems, and finalized standards to curb 
                toxic emissions from power plants. Implementing these 
                standards will help prevent thousands of premature 
                deaths each year by substantially reducing mercury and 
                other pollutants.

                We have made real progress, but we cannot stop there. 
                We cannot afford to ignore what the overwhelming 
                judgment of science tells us: that climate change is 
                real and that it poses an urgent threat to our people 
                and our planet. That is why my Administration set 
                historic fuel efficiency standards that will nearly 
                double how far our cars go on a gallon of gas while 
                reducing harmful carbon pollution. It is why we made 
                unprecedented investments in clean energy, allowing us 
                to double renewable energy production in only 4 years. 
                And it is why I am challenging Americans to double it 
                again by 2020.

                Because climate change and other environmental problems 
                cannot be fully addressed by government alone, we are 
                also engaging key stakeholders at home and abroad. Last 
                year, we launched a global initiative to cut short-
                lived climate pollutants that contribute to global 
                warming. We have proposed historic investments in Land 
                and Water Conservation Fund programs. And we continue 
                to stand behind innovators and entrepreneurs who will 
                unleash the next wave of clean energy technologies and 
                drive long-term economic growth. At the same time, we 
                are working to protect our communities and our economy 
                from the unavoidable effects of climate change that we 
                are already starting to feel.

                Today, America is sending less carbon pollution into 
                the environment than we have in nearly 20 years. But we 
                owe it to our children to do more. That is why I have 
                called on the Congress to pursue a bipartisan, market-
                based solution to climate change. In the meantime, I 
                will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive 
                actions to reduce pollution, prepare our communities 
                for the consequences of climate change, and speed our 
                transition to sustainable energy.

[[Page 24326]]

                More than four decades after the first Earth Day, 
                millions of Americans have answered the call to protect 
                the environment. Today, let us do so again by joining 
                together, raising our voices, and standing up for our 
                planet and our future.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2013, as 
                Earth Day. I encourage all Americans to participate in 
                programs and activities that will protect our 
                environment and contribute to a healthy, sustainable 
                future.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                seventh.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2013-09870
Filed 4-23-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3