01/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/08/2025 09:24
EARTHDAY.ORG PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER
Washington, DC (January 8, 2025) - EARTHDAY.ORG, EDO, the global leader in Earth Day advocacy, observed by over one billion people every April 22, pays tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, who will be laid to rest on January 9, 2025.
A man who dedicated his life to service, President Carter was deeply committed to finding peace, especially in the Middle East - a commitment that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
"President Carter's leadership went beyond traditional politics, and it is only fitting that Earth Day reflects on his forward-thinking approach to renewable energy-an issue we, too, are deeply passionate about, especially his early advocacy for solar energy," says Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG. "We have set the theme for Earth Day 2025 as 'Our Power, Our Planet,' backing renewable energy, a theme that now feels more fitting than ever."
During his presidency, Carter faced a turbulent period marked by rising energy prices, largely driven by the 1973 OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil embargo. The energy crisis that followed deeply affected American society and led President Carter to speak directly to the nation.
President Carter's candid address on April 18, 1977-just days before Earth Day-was a clarion call for energy conservation. His message, while difficult for many to hear, was a visionary one as Carter urged Americans to make the shift towards renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on "permanent renewable energy sources like solar." President Carter called for the use of solar energy in more than 2 1/2 million American homes.
"What President Carter advocated was not only visionary, but necessary," says Denis Hayes, national organizer of the first Earth Day and Board Chair Emeritus of EARTHDAY.ORG. "I had the privilege of working in Carter's administration, as the director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and I vividly remember his decision to set a goal of getting 20 percent of the nation's total energy from renewable sources by the year 2000. It was a bold, forward-thinking move that demonstrated his belief in the freedom and security that solar energy could offer, along with its huge environmental benefits. If he had won a second term and continued his push, America would be more prosperous, and the world's climate would be much more stable, today."
"In addition to fundamental security, solar and renewable sources of energy provide numerous social and environmental benefits. Energy from the sun is clean and safe. It will not pollute the air we breathe or the water we drink. It does not run the risk of an accident which may threaten the health or life of our citizens. There are no toxic wastes to cause disposal problems." "No foreign cartel can set the price of sun power; no one can embargo it. Every solar collector in this country, every investment in using wind or biomass energy, every advance in making electricity directly from the sun decreases our reliance on uncertain sources of imported oil, bolsters our international trade position, and enhances the security of our nation."
At EARTHDAY.ORG, we believe that President Carter's vision for America's energy future remains as relevant today as it was in the late 1970s. We honor his life, thank him for his decades of service, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May he rest in peace.
About EARTHDAY.ORG: Founded in 1970 by the organizers of the first Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG has grown into one of the world's largest environmental movements, mobilizing over one billion people annually on Earth Day and every day to protect the planet and its people. Our mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental community globally. As the largest recruiter to this movement, EARTHDAY.ORG partners with more than 150,000 organizations in nearly 192 countries to promote environmental democracy. Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG.
For media inquiries/quotes/comment/inspiration/resources and interviews: Sarah T Davies, [email protected], +1 240 463 1341 (Washington DC) Terran Fielder, [email protected], +1 661 444 4436 (Washington DC)
