Podcast Transcript

21 April 2006
The United States Celebrates Earth Day

On the 36th anniversary of the first Earth Day America is tackling environmental problems at home and abroad.

Hello, my name is Jason Hahn and I work in the Environment, Science and Technology Unit at the U.S. Embassy in London. Today the United States celebrates Earth Day - we look back on the progress we have made over the past 36 years and look forward to the results our stewardship of the environment will bring. I would like to take a few minutes to discuss how far the U.S. has come in protecting the environment domestically and how we are responding to today's global environmental challenges.

Thirty-six years ago on the occasion of the first Earth Day the environment in the United States was bad and getting worse. The book Silent Spring had recently exposed the dangers of pesticides to American wildlife. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was on-fire and in some cities air pollution was so bad residents changed their shirts twice a day. Later that year, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency and now thirty-six years later, America has made remarkable progress in cleaning up our environment and safeguarding our natural resources. We have reached this remarkable achievement during a period of sustained economic growth and a forty percent increase in our population. How did we do it?

American achievements in improving and protecting our environment are based on the sustained, combined efforts of all elements of our society including governmental institutions, businesses and civil society. Our achievements are based on three different pieces of national legislation: The Clean Air Act, The Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The Clean Air Act set standards for the automobiles and power plants which reduced their polluting emissions without harming our economy. Between 1970 when it was enacted and 2004 America's gross domestic product increased 187 percent, vehicle miles traveled increased 171 percent, energy consumption increased 47 percent, and U.S. population grew by 40 percent. During the same time period, total emissions of the six principal air pollutants dropped by 54 percent. The Clean Water Act was similarly successful. It ended the practice of dumping pollutants, without a permit, into rivers and lakes, and set national standards for water quality. Today rivers such as the Hudson River, whose mouth is found in New York City, have been rehabilitated. People can use them for recreation and native species have returned. The Endangered Species Act was another landmark piece of legislation which protected America's biodiversity. It is exemplified in the recovery of the previously endangered bald eagle, the national bird of the United States. When it became the national bird in 1782 there were approximately 50,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles. Prolifigate use of the pesticide DDT, which severely impeded the eagles' ability to incubate their eggs, brought this number down to 417 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states in 1963. After protection from the Endangered Species Act and other laws, the lower 48 states now host 7066 bald eagle nesting pairs. This legislation combined with the hard work of America's public servants and business leaders delivered results. Our environment is cleaner, our animals safer, and our economy stronger after their efforts.

As the United States moved to protect its domestic environment we gained increasing understanding of the international implications of pollution and environmental degradation and we began to work with countries around the world to safeguard the global environment. The United States was a major force behind the Montreal Protocol on Substances Which Deplete the Ozone Layer of 1987. This protocol resulted in a dramatic decline in the chlorofluorocarbons which attack the ozone layer and we are beginning to see its results as the ozone layer strengthens. We are continuing our work today as the United States works to develop new, cleaner sources of energy and we move to combat wildlife trafficking.

The United States, along with its partners in Australia, China, South Korea, India and Japan recently formed the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Development. This partnership will focuses on voluntary practical measures taken by these six countries in the Asia-Pacific region to create new investment opportunities, build local capacity, and remove barriers to the introduction of clean, more efficient technologies. It will bring together key experts from the public, private and research sectors. The partnership held its first meeting in Sydney earlier this year and developed an ambitious work plan which will focus on delivering economic growth and cleaner energy. The United States brings to this partnership a vast amount of technical knowledge on climate change and cleaner energy fueled by President Bush's decision to devote 20 billion dollars, during the course of his presidency, to research on these issues.

The United States has also launched, along with its partners in Britian and India, as well as several NGOs, the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking. We know all to well that unchecked demand for exotic pets, rare foods, trophies, and traditional medicines is driving tigers, elephants, rhinos, exotic birds and many other species to the brink of extinction, threatening global biodiversity. Added to this is the alarming rise in virulent wildlife diseases, such as SARS and avian influenza, crossing species lines to infect humans and endanger public health. The coalition has begun its work in Asia where it has begun to work with Government of Thailand and others to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in that region.

Over the past 36 years since the first Earth Day the United States has made great strides in protecting its environment while growing its economy and population. We have done this through an active partnership of government and the private sector to clean up our air, our water, and preserve our biological diversity. This partnership is illustrated by our work to "green" our Embassy facilities here in London. The Embassy is in the process of installing a green roof which will reduce runoff and provide an urban habitat for wildlife. It has already installed a combined heat and power hydrogen fuel cell which combines low emissions with efficient power production and we will soon be adding wind power to our electrical supply. The United States recognizes there is still much more to be done and we are working today, with our partners around the world, to safeguard and improve our environment. Happy Earth Day!

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