The History of Environmental Policy in the United States

The history of environmental policy in the United States dates back to the 19th century when the first national parks were created to preserve natural resources. In the early 20th century, as industrialization and urbanization spread, the government began to take a more active role in regulating pollution and protecting public health. The Clean Air Act of 1963 and the Clean Water Act of 1972 were landmark pieces of legislation that established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set national standards for environmental quality. In the 1980s, concern over ozone depletion led to the Montreal Protocol, an international agreement to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances. Later, the United States and other countries signed the Paris Agreement, which commits signatories to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit the increase in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Environmental policy has evolved over time in response to scientific discoveries, public opinion, and political pressures, and it will continue to be shaped by these factors in the future.

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