NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today released the following statement in observance of Earth Day:
“On the first Earth Day, in 1970, there were no comprehensive federal regulations to protect clean air or clean water. There was no Endangered Species Act. There was little recognition of the threat of climate change, and even less effort to combat it. But thanks to the efforts of far-sighted environmental activists, the first Earth Day marked the birth of the modern environmental movement, which has secured landmark legislation and transformed public consciousness about our relationship with the natural world.
“We have made tremendous strides since the first Earth Day, but we face even more daunting challenges today. So on this Earth Day, let us be mindful not only of how fragile our shared planet is, and of our shared responsibility to protect it, but also of the power of social movements to change the course of history. As we confront the generational challenges of climate change, as well as continued habitat destruction and the pollution of our air and water, let us recommit ourselves to organizing and working together for a healthy and sustainable future.”