Hello, I’m Lisa Jackson, 
Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency.

At the first Earth Day 39 years ago, 
20 million Americans stood up 
to protect human health 
and the environment.

It was a time when many American 
cities were blanketed with dangerous 
pollution and smog…. 

A time when in many communities, 
local waterways were too polluted 
to swim in, to fish from, or to drink…. 

That first Earth Day grew into 
a movement that reached millions more, 
and built a better future for all of us.  

We’ve helped clear harmful toxins 
from our air, our water, and land.  

And what started with those 
20 million Americans 
almost four decades ago 
will engage more than a billion people 
this Earth Day, April 22nd.   

People all around the world 
will join together to say 
that it is our job to protect 
and preserve our planet 
and the people that live on it.  

We’ve seen how far we can come 
if individuals take the initiative 
and get involved.   

But we still have a long way to go…

to protect our most vulnerable 
communities, especially the children
that live in them…

to remove pollution and toxic 
chemicals from our air, water, and land…	 

and to build a clean energy economy 
that creates new jobs, 
clears the air, 
and frees us from our dependence 
on foreign oil.  

That way, people 39 years from now 
will remember that this generation 
helped to build a better future for all of us. 

We won’t get there without your help.    

Visit epa.gov/earthday 
to find out about events 
and volunteer opportunities 
in your community.

Celebrate Earth Day this year 
by making April Earth Month.  
Then think about stretching 
that out into an Earth Year.

I look forward to joining you.  
Thank you very much.



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