For Immediate Release:
April 22, 2020
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, 202.286.1987 - mnocella@dccouncil.us
Ongoing pandemic offers lessons for protecting the Earth
Councilmember Grosso commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso on the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day:
“Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day, an opportunity to reflect on the collective impact of our actions on a planet we share with 7 billion other people and hope to bequeath to countless future generations. The ongoing global pandemic overshadows this day, but there are lessons applicable in our fight against the coming climate crisis. The spread of coronavirus has demonstrated the perils of ignoring or downplaying warnings from the scientific community. It has illustrated that our borders are imaginary and that events in one part of the world reverberate globally. And it calls us to act today to stop the crises of tomorrow from taking hold and to mitigate their effects.
“I’m proud of the work of the District of Columbia to take environmental protection and climate change seriously. We’ve set ambitious targets to halve our greenhouse gas emissions, and our efforts to provide a cleaner Anacostia River for all District residents to enjoy are working.
“Unfortunately, combating climate change and preparing for its impacts–even acknowledging its existence–has become another partisan fight in our country. Without strong efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions at the federal level we have begun to usher in extreme weather and rising waters. And this pandemic has highlighted the inequities and environmental injustice suffered by vulnerable people across the city and the globe. Those with preexisting conditions such as asthma and diabetes, often suffered by people who live in polluted communities with limited access to healthy, nutritious foods, are most affected by the coronavirus. These people will be hardest hit, not only by our nation’s inaction to address climate change, but also by our deliberate attempts to exacerbate it. As the attention of local and state governments and advocates are focused on the public health and economic crisis, the Trump administration is dismantling environmental protections such as emissions standards for cars and power plants. Let’s not allow this to go unnoticed.
“You don’t have to be a part of the policy making process to do your part. Earth day cleanups, celebrations, and protests may be canceled, but from afar we can take a moment to reflect on how we’ve treated the Earth and ask ourselves how we can eventually emerge from our homes and go back out into the world with renewed appreciation for Earth’s beauty. Pause today and note the positive effects of humans treading more lightly. As so many of us stay home, we are providing a respite for the Earth. As people stop scurrying all over the planet by plane and boat and automobile, scientists have noticed the canals in Venice getting cleaner and endangered turtles hatching and surviving the trip to the ocean in Brazil. Even locally, the District of Columbia has enjoyed better air quality.
“Going forward, we can vow to treat the Earth better by making better choices in our transportation modes and how we power our homes, at the ballot box, and as we weigh our needs and wants versus the Earth’s when it comes to our consumption habits. Limited in our activities today, we can ask ourselves what do we really need? Can we treat the Earth and the people who live on it better?”
###