1970 Earth Day -- 50 Years Later
Americans began cleaning up
their industrialized environment
after World War II.
But there was still too much
pollution during the first
Earth Day in 1970.
Air Pollution:
Today the U.S. air
is as clean as
it has ever been.
From 1980 to 2018,
except where noted
[Source: U.S. EPA]:
Carbon monoxide, down 83%
Lead, down 99%
Nitrous oxides, down 61%
Ozone, down 31%
Particulate matter
(10 micrograms & below), down 26%
Particulate matter
(2.5 micrograms & below), down 39%
(2000-2018)
Sulfur dioxide, down 91%
Drinking Water:
“Generally, water systems
in the United States provide
reliable and high-quality
drinking water. Violations
tend to be infrequent.”
Source: PNAS
Surface Waters:
Since 2005, 832 bodies of water
have been restored from
run-off/non-point-source
pollution.
131 bodies of water under
President Trump’s leadership.
[Source: EPA]
Waste Sites:
Superfund waste site
clean ups have accelerated
under the Trump administration
[Source: EPA]:
Last two years of Obama EPA
– 9 sites cleaned up,
vs.
First two years of the Trump EPA
– 28 sites cleaned up
A Greener Earth:
The Earth is greener,
according to NASA
Source:
Climate:
Since the
pre-industrial age,
there has been
approximately
+1.1°C of warming
and almost 50%
more CO2 in the
atmosphere.
Since that time,
people are living
longer lives,
at a higher
standard of living.
Life expectancy is up
from approximately
40 years (in 1850),
to approximately
79 (in 2019)
US per capita GDP
is up from approx.
$2,825 in 1850.
to approximately
$53,000 in 2016
(2011 dollars)
Environmental
protection
is an important
group effort,
enabled by
our wealth,
which is created
by our free market
economic system.