President Nixon and Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, and the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act were passed in the next two years. That's twice the number reported safe in 1972. The EPA also says tougher emissions standards make cars we drive today pollute 95 percent less than those of three decades ago. But before we honor ourselves with a standing ovation, remember that our planet's population has more than doubled since 1950. More and more species are becoming extinct each year, and we're converting forests and farmland to commercial use at an alarming annual rate.
Some answers seem obvious.
We need to build and use more bike lanes and mass transit. We need to make recycling mandatory. We need to give greater tax incentives for alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. We need to purchase and protect more land from development. And we need to preserve and restore our inner cities to slow suburban sprawl.