Our air is generally cleaner and healthier today than 20 years ago, preventing tens of thousands of respiratory illnesses and deaths every year. Despite this progress, however, air pollution remains a major public health issue around the world. Even though current vehicles are much cleaner than they were not long ago, the number of vehicles being driven and the number of miles driven is increasing steadily. And, threats to the global environment are mounting from global warming. President Clinton is committed to securing realistic and binding agreements that ensure that all countries participate in this process and do their part to address the challenge of global warming.
Economic prosperity is vital to sustainable development.
So too is a healthy environment. Both are essential for creating opportunity and prosperity for communities around the globe. In the United States, we proved that you can have strong environmental protection and still have strong economic growth and prosperity. We do not have to choose between our health and our jobs. In fact, the two are inextricably linked.