 
Assembly Resolution No. 740
 
BY: M. of A. McMahon
 
        COMMEMORATING the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day on
        April 22, 2022
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay  tribute  to  those  organizations  and  persons  dedicating   their
purposeful work to increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for,
the  natural  resources  of  New York, recognizing the role all citizens
have in protecting the environment and  the  quality  of  life  in  this
Empire State; and
 
  WHEREAS, Responding to widespread environmental degradation, Gaylord
Nelson,   a   United  States  Senator  from  Wisconsin,  called  for  an
environmental teach-in, or Earth Day, to be held on April 22, 1970; over
20 million people participated that year; and
 
  WHEREAS, Earth Day is now observed each year on  April  22  by  more
than  500 million people and national governments in 175 countries; this
year's theme is "Invest In Our Planet"; and
 
  WHEREAS, In the 52 years that have passed since the  original  Earth
Day,  the  planet  has been subjected to the continuing burdens of world
population growth, increasing commercial  and  residential  development,
ocean pollution, increasing stores of toxic and nuclear waste, and other
similar  assaults  which  have exacerbated the growing dangers of global
climate change, ozone depletion, toxic poisoning, deforestation and mass
species extinctions; and
 
  WHEREAS, Following the first Earth Day, and  the  demonstrations  of
concern  of  over 20 million Americans, a collective national action has
resulted in the passage of sweeping new laws to protect  the  invaluable
resources of air, land and water; and
 
  WHEREAS,  A sound natural environment is the foundation of a healthy
society and a robust economy in that it works  hand  in  hand  with  the
creation  of  green  jobs, boosts sustainable agriculture in communities
and allows for New Yorkers to take in the  natural  elements  that  have
defined our State; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Human  activities  around  the  world  are  causing severe
environmental damage  that  threatens  human  health  and  our  planet's
ability  to  sustain  a  diverse  community  of  life  such  as  a heavy
dependence on fossil fuels, widespread use of toxic  chemicals  in  food
and  other  consumer  goods, devastation of forests, hazardous chemicals
that have affected children  and  families  in  our  many  environmental
justice communities; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  knowledge  of  ways  to  live  in  harmony  with  our
environment and methods and technologies to accomplish this end  already
exists  in  the  pristine  natural  resources that New York State has to
offer for sustainable communities in rich agriculture, clean waters  and
a  movement  that  promotes  reliance  on renewable energy resources and
recycling; and
 
  WHEREAS, Local communities can  do  much  to  reverse  environmental
degradation  and  contribute  to building a healthy society by promoting
energy conservation, sustainable land use policies, and public  transit;
and
 
  WHEREAS, There are sound economic, environmental, and social reasons
for local governments to initiate energy efficiency and renewable energy
practices; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  environmental realities of our time require humans to
make a dramatic shift in our relationship to the earth; and
 
  WHEREAS, April 22, 2022, marks the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day,  a
day  set aside to celebrate the beauty and bounty of our environment and
to revitalize the efforts required to protect, and maintain respect for,
the environment and its resources; and
 
  WHEREAS, Earth Day 2022  activities  and  events  will  educate  all
citizens  on  the  importance  of acting in an environmentally sensitive
fashion by recycling,  conserving  energy  and  water,  using  efficient
transportation, and adopting more ecologically sound lifestyles; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  goal of Earth Day 2022 is not to plan only one day of
events and activities, but to continue worldwide efforts to protect  all
aspects of the environment; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2022; and  be
it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  New York commits itself to undertaking programs and
projects that enhance our community's natural  environment;  and  be  it
further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  New  York  State  hereby  encourages its residents,
businesses and institutions to use Earth Day to celebrate the Earth  and
commit to building a sustainable society; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That this Legislative Body congratulate all the concerned
citizens of New York State who have embraced  the  responsible  work  of
protecting and preserving the environment for future generations.
Commemorating the 52nd Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2022

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