Earth Day Message 2024

1.  Marine Corps installations are critical to our ability to remain the expeditionary force-in-readiness for the nation.  They provide realistic training venues and platforms to support our Marines while demonstrating our efforts to be good neighbors to our surrounding communities.  As detailed in our 2023 Installation Campaign Plan for Environmental Resilience and Energy Readiness https:(slash)(slash)www.mcicom.marines.mil, however, the sustainability of our installations is being challenged as never before over contested energy and water resources as well as the effects of destructive events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, fires and sea level rise.  The Campaign Plan outlines our strategy to address these challenges through environmental resilience, energy readiness, and building partnerships and rallying support.
2.  Earth Day, celebrated every year on 22 April, offers the Marine Corps an opportunity to highlight these challenges and our solutions in line with the Earth Day 2024 theme of Communities, Critical Infrastructure, and Climate Action by Secretary of the Navy.  Across the Marine Corps, we are taking action to make our infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events and energy and water disruptions while reducing impacts on our environment.  For example, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort received a Department of Energy grant for $7.8M to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) carport that will support net-zero facility efforts, improve energy diversity, and reduce carbon emissions from local power plants.  In addition, the Marine Corps in concert with the Army Corps of Engineers Engineering with Nature Program is assessing and developing pilot natural resources projects to help mitigate severe weather effects by restoring wetlands and dunes, constructing artificial reefs, and developing stormwater management and erosion control measures.  These projects not only protect our infrastructure, but also have environmental benefits.
3.  Earth Day is also an opportunity to reinforce individual actions that enhance our mission readiness.  Marines should continue reducing water usage and waste at home and the workplace; turning off lights when leaving your office or home; reducing plastic waste by using reusable bags; and minimizing spills and the disposal of harmful chemicals and cleaners.  These actions help enhance our mission, communities, and environment.  Additionally, I encourage Marines to support environmental activities that demonstrate our good stewardship on our installations and surrounding communities, so we can continue to protect our environment as we protect our Nation. 
4.  Additional information related to Earth Day can be found at:
Marine Corps:  https:(slash)(slash)www.dvidshub.net/feature/installationresilience
Department of the Navy:  https:(slash)(slash)www.secnav.navy.mil/climate/pages/resources.aspx 
5.  Release authorized by MajGen David W. Maxwell, Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (Facilities).