San Francisco Earth Day event takes on political tone

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco announced an ambitious new goal on Thursday ahead of Earth Day this Saturday. This year, the annual environmental event is taking on an extra political tone.

The Bay Area will once again see lots of Earth Day activities, with many cities hosting festivals, restorations and clean-ups.

Ahead of this weekend, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced a new goal. By 2020, half of the city's energy will come from renewable sources.

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Former Bay Area congressman Pete Mcloskey, a co-founder of Earth Day, also had a message at the mayor's news conference. "We are going to remain a city that takes aggressive and ambitious climate action, no matter who is in the White House," he said.

President Trump's recent executive order to undo Obama-era policies on global warming is prompting a new twist on Earth Day.

Thousands of scientists plan to march on D.C. like women did in January. There will be over 400 local marches.

The San Francisco march will feature "Mythbusters'" Adam Savage as keynote speaker. "This is hundreds of thousands, if not millions of us, hitting the streets to let our voices be heard. To demand of our leaders and government evidence-based policy," Savage said.

NASA is also offering something new this year. You can adopt a piece of the planet -- virtually and not legally binding. You can data on the piece of Earth that's yours.

Click here for a list of Bay Area Earth Day events.

Click here for Golden Gate National Parks Day of Service information.