“The Navy carries out numerous programs that protect the Earth year-round as we perform our national defense mission. Earth Day celebrations give us the chance to connect with local communities and inform people about those programs.”
- John Quinn, Acting Director, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division
Navy and Marine Corps commands around the globe are participating in Earth Day activities throughout the month of April. This year’s theme is, “Partnering for a Greener Future,” highlighting the Department’s many successful partnerships with sister military services, government agencies, local schools, non-governmental organizations, and the public. The official Earth Day date is April 22. Navy and Marine Corps commands will participate in Earth Day activities on that date and throughout April. More than 50 installations will celebrate by hosting beach cleanups, dumpster dives, information sessions, classroom visits, nature hikes, poster contests and many more activities. The Navy and Marine Corps are deeply committed to changing the way energy is used and produced, preserving the environment, and planning for and mitigating the harmful effects of climate change.
Navy “Green” Partner Examples:
AWAN Francesco Schittinu and AWAN Steve Platt, both assigned to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, look through recyclable materials during Naval Air Station Whidbey Island's 21st Earth Day kick off.
* Commander Navy Region Southeast is the federal co-lead for both the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic Regional Planning Bodies of the National Ocean Council, which was established under the National Ocean Policy (NOP). At the national level, the NOP provides a high level interagency forum where policy issues can be discussed. At the regional level, the NOP provides the Navy and Marine Corps an avenue for proactively engaging in marine spatial planning with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners.
* As part of its long-term environmental planning efforts, the Navy has been working with the National Marine Fisheries Service to assess and mitigate potential significant environmental impacts of military training and testing activities conducted in operational areas throughout the Atlantic and Pacific.
* The Navy continues to fund millions in research and collaborate with academic institutions to study the ecology of marine mammals and to minimize the potential effects of Navy training and testing activities on the marine ecosystem.
* The Navy is working with government agencies, industry, and local communities to determine how to support renewable energy projects, such as wind projects, while minimizing training impacts.
