; Whereas, by 1990, Earth Day was celebrated globally, with 200,000,000 people in 141 countries participating in Earth Day events; Whereas, on April 22, 2016, the 46th anniversary of Earth Day, 175 world leaders signed the Paris Agreement, a landmark international agreement to combat climate change and accelerate actions and investment in a sustainable, clean energy future; Whereas the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will be marked by tens of thousands of engagement events in every country across the world; Whereas Earth Day fosters environmental activism and stewardship around the world, and encourages people to find ways to protect the environment, including managing their own environmental impact; Whereas on Earth Day, people engage in projects, initiatives, and campaigns to protect and restore the planet including planting trees, removing litter, cleaning up coral reefs, conserving water and energy, and other environmentally responsible actions; Whereas in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the Earth Challenge 2020 was launched, a global citizen science initiative to demonstrate how small acts of science can add up to global change; Whereas new and continuing challenges, including climate change, pollution, sea level rise, and loss of forests, wetlands, and other wildlife habitats, reinforce the need for adequate protections for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we inhabit, and the animals we live alongside; Whereas there is scientific consensus that climate change poses a dire threat to our planet and its inhabitants, and that urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to mitigate its worst effects; Whereas Earth Day reaffirms our national responsibility in the global effort to combat climate change and protect our planet for all