Timeline of Significant Environmental Legislation by

The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970

rsilva_9145 — 2024-04-04 16:39:50 UTC

With the rapid expansion of the automobile industry after World War 2, many American urban centers began to face unhealthy amounts of air and water pollution. This was mainly due to the completely unregulated amounts of carbon emissions being produced by cars. Many Americans began to notice the deteriorating quality of the air, and urged the government to take action. The Clean Air Act of 1970 required the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency to set national standards for acceptable levels of pollution in the air. They were also required to review, update, and enforce these standards. (Hu, 2022) The effects of this law can literally be seen and felt in many American cities. Since 1970, fewer people from urban areas enter hospitals with cardiac and respiratory related issues. In fact, a 2020 NDRC report states that The Clean Air Act has prevented over 370,000 premature deaths due to unclean environments. (Price, 2020)

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021

rsilva_9145 — 2024-04-11 17:26:29 UTC

As many Americans have begun to feel the effects of climate change, many politicians in Washington decided to get together with President Biden to pass his Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In the two years since its passing, over $614 billion in clean energy infrastructure has been built by the private sector due to the incentives put in place by this bill. Also, over 2,900 low and zero emission public-transportation buses have been added to American cities since this bill has been passed.

The Paris Climate Accord

rsilva_9145 — 2024-04-23 22:16:04 UTC

The Paris Climate Accord, adopted at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, is a global effort to combat climate change. The primary objective is to limit global warming and pre-industrial levels. To join the agreement, each participating country was required to set its emissions reduction targets. Additionally, the accord provides financial assistance from developed nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, to support developing countries in their transition using cleaner and more sustainable energy. The accord faced a setback when ident Donald Trump announced the U.S.'s intention to withdraw in 2017. However, the majority of nations have reaffirmed their commitment to the accord, striving to implement its objectives through continued international cooperation.