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History
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million people across the country, nearly 10% of the population at the time. Many major cities, colleges, universities, high schools and grade schools participated. Rallies, demonstrations and musical performances took place in the major cities. After the first Earth Day celebration, more Americans realized the importance of protecting the environment. Since then, many significant measures have been put into place to support this important initiative.
Here are some of the highlights:
On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated by 20 million people across the country, nearly 10% of the population at the time. Many major cities, colleges, universities, high schools and grade schools participated. Rallies, demonstrations and musical performances took place in the major cities. After the first Earth Day celebration, more Americans realized the importance of protecting the environment. Since then, many significant measures have been put into place to support this important initiative.
Here are some of the highlights:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened on December 2, 1970.
- The Clean Air Act is amended by Congress in 1970 to set national air quality, auto emission and anti-pollution standards. In 1977, President Carter signed the Clean Air Act Amendments to strengthen air quality standards and protect human health.
- Also in 1972, the Clean Water Act is passed in Congress, which limited raw sewage and other pollutants from entering into rivers, lakes and streams. Only 36% of the nation’s stream miles were safe to use for recreational activities such as swimming and fishing at the time. Now, about 60% are safe for these purposes.
- In 1992, the EPA launched the EnergyStar program, giving consumers information about energy-efficient products.
- In 1994, new standards for chemical plants were issued by the EPA to reduce toxic air pollution by more than half a million tons each year, equaling the removal of 38 million cars annually.
- In 2003, Clear Skies legislation and alternative regulations are proposed to create a cap and trade system to reduce SO2 emissions by 70% and NOx emission by 65%.
- Over the past 3 decades, total emissions of six principal air pollutants (carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide) have decreased by 54%.
