New York City could not wait until Thursday's Earth Day to get its "green" on. The city's Earth Week festivities were launched by Mayor Bloomberg and Earth Day New York on Monday and have included recycling events and an ongoing exhibition in Grand Central Terminal.

Thursday's celebration of the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day in Times Square coincided with the release of the latest PlaNYC progress report.  According to the report, 56 percent of the plan's 127 initiatives have been achieved or mostly achieved (i.e. 75 percent complete) since its launch three years ago. 

Some notable achievements include:

• Nine percent decrease in citywide carbon emissions;
• 25 percent of the yellow taxi fleet converted to hybrid vehicles;
• Greener, Greater Buildings Plan enacted into law;
• 200 miles of bicycle lanes installed;
• Over 28,600 acres of land acquired to protect the city's upstate water supply;
• and 322,497 trees planted.

A case study on PlaNYC was also released this week by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA.  The intent behind the case study, which takes an in-depth look at the development and implementation of the city's sustainability plan, is that it will serve as a template for municipalities formulating plans of their own.

If you still have not had a chance to partake in the festivities, there is still time to do so. EarthFair Indoors at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall will be going on from 10am-7pm on Friday and 10am-5pm on Saturday.  EarthFair Outdoors will be taking place from 12pm-7pm on Friday and 11am-5pm on Saturday at Vanderbilt Avenue outside of Grand Central Terminal.