[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9259 of April 21, 2015

Earth Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Forty-five years ago, millions of Americans celebrated the first Earth
Day in cities across our Nation. Having borne witness to years of
environmental neglect, these ordinary citizens gathered in the streets,
in parks, and on college campuses to demand change and commit to leaving
a healthier planet for the next generation. Faced with contaminated
rivers and polluted cities, they stood up, spoke out, and fought for
air, water, and wildlife protections. Their voices galvanized a
movement--leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency
and the passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the
Endangered Species Act--and ignited a spirit of stewardship that
continues to drive us to meet the challenges of our time.
Today, our planet faces new challenges, but none pose a greater threat
to future generations than climate change. Science tells us the earth is

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warming--last year was the planet's warmest on record, and 14 of the 15
warmest recorded years have come in the first 15 years of this century--
and human activity is the primary driver of the rapid warming of the
past half-century. Climate change will have profound impacts on all
humankind, and many Americans are already feeling the effects. The costs
of more severe weather disasters can be measured in lost lives and
livelihoods and in billions of dollars of emergency services, and the
costs will only increase with time. Firefighters are braving longer
wildfire seasons; farmers are confronting adverse growing conditions;
and our children and most vulnerable populations are experiencing a
range of climate-related health effects.
As a Nation, we must act before it is too late. That is why my
Administration has taken a series of ambitious steps to combat climate
change and protect our planet for our children and grandchildren. As
part of my Climate Action Plan, we have proposed the first-ever carbon
pollution limits for existing power plants. We have also partnered with
communities to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate that we can
no longer avoid. And I have protected more than 260 million additional
acres of public lands and waters, safeguarding the natural bounty of our
planet for ages to come.
The United States is committed to our role as a global leader in the
fight against climate change, and last year, we jointly announced with
China ambitious but achievable new targets for reducing greenhouse
gases. I am also ensuring that our Federal Government leads by example
by working to reduce Federal greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent. My
Administration will continue to engage with key stakeholders at home and
abroad who share our hope for a cleaner world.
Protecting our planet will also require us to change the way we use
energy, and my energy strategy recognizes this critical need. My
Administration has made the largest investment in clean energy in
American history, and today the United States generates more renewable
energy than ever before--we harness 3 times as much wind power as we did
when I took office and solar electricity generation has increased 20-
fold. Mayors, Governors, and business leaders across the country are
taking steps to deploy clean energy, boost energy efficiency, and create
more sustainable communities and supply chains. We are promoting energy
efficiency in our buildings and cars and working to ensure our Nation is
a leader in the energy sources of tomorrow.
As caretakers of our planet, we all have an obligation to combat climate
change and protect our earth for the next generation. The decisions we
make today and in the years ahead will have a profound impact on the
world we leave behind, and we must each do our part. We can reduce the
energy used in our homes and offices; we can help protect our resources
by recycling as part of our everyday routine; and we can raise our
voices to support policies like the ones my Administration has put forth
to protect our environment while strengthening our economy. On Earth
Day, let us join with communities around the world, and as one people--
who share one planet--let us recommit to meeting the test of our time
and continuing our work to build a cleaner, safer, more stable world.
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

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22, 2015, 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 twenty-first day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
ninth.
BARACK OBAMA