If only Maine's attention to environmental issues and love for our most beautiful piece of Mother Earth could have an impact far greater than a rural state with 1.3 million people should expect. ...

Last week, two environmental announcements occurred, one in Washington and one in Augusta.

First, President Bush offered a limp, new "strategy" about climate change. The president, with nine months remaining in is final term in office, called for a halt in the growth of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 2025.

You read that right.

A president who's been in office nearly eight years, and who entered his presidency as a full-fledged skeptic about global warming and greenhouse gases, said we should cut it out -- 17 years from now. His "initiative" was as disheartening as it was pathetic.

But then something good happened, right here in Maine.

Members of the Environmental Priorities Coalition -- 25 organizations that advocate for environmental causes in one fashion or another -- pointed out what a successful legislative session they'd just had.

Lawmakers this year have passed bills that would require manufacturers to disclose more about the chemicals they use in children's products. If "safer" and affordable alternatives are available for those products, manufacturers must choose them.

Lawmakers passed bills barring the use of lead in children's toys, and taking more steps to eradicate lead paint from older homes.

And they enacted a new tax credit to promote rehabilitation and renovation of downtown, historic buildings.

This "twofer" measure is among our favorites of the 2008 session, as it has the potential to help turn around downtowns in Augusta, Waterville, Skowhegan and elsewhere. At the same time, because it will make city-center construction less costly, it may ease development pressure on woodlots and farmland throughout the state.

Maine environmentalists were rightly proud that they pulled this off -- and that lawmakers took the time to listen and act -- during a session that was dominated by spending, taxes and state government's $200 million budget deficit.

Now back to Bush. This president has been consistent about global climate change. He has consistently missed opportunities to show the world that the United States, which emits more greenhouse gases than any other nation, will lead by example, aggressively capping factory carbon-dioxide emissions and setting better auto-emissions standards.

He missed these opportunities just as, after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he missed the chance to lead our nation toward energy independence, to free us from the grasp of Middle-Eastern oil barons, even if bold proposals to do so would have required great sacrifice.

On this Earth Day, however, we have several things to be thankful for. Scientists, state and city leaders are taking steps regarding greenhouse gases that Bush has not.

And we live in Maine, where protecting the awe-inspiring, natural beauty that surrounds us is so ingrained into our culture that environmental successes continue to happen, even during legislative sessions that rightly focus on the financial bottom line.