Key Events in the U.S. Environmental Movement

Shelterbelt Project

Initiative to plant over 200 million trees from North Dakota to Texas to combat wind erosion during the Dust Bowl, considered a major environmental success.

Theodore Roosevelt

Set aside land for national forest reserves and monuments, tripling national forest acreage to 100 million acres by 1909, influenced by conservationist John Muir.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Preserves over 70,000 acres of natural resources, created in 1947 and upgraded to national park status in 1978, honoring Roosevelt's conservation legacy.

Early 20th-century conservationists vs. modern environmentalists

Early conservationists like Roosevelt and Muir focused on preserving natural resources for future generations, not on ecosystems or pollution's health impacts.

Dust Bowl

Occurred in the 1930s due to years of plowing fragile soils and drought, causing massive dust storms that devastated agriculture and health in the western U.S.

Health impacts of the Dust Bowl

Many people developed 'dust pneumonia' from inhaling fine dust particles, leading to thousands of deaths.

Black Sunday

On April 14, 1935, a dust storm known as 'Black Sunday' displaced 300 million tons of topsoil, causing major environmental and health disasters.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal

Included programs like the Farm Security Administration, Soil Conservation Service, and the Shelterbelt Project to promote soil conservation and reduce wind erosion.

Cuyahoga River fire

River in Ohio caught fire in 1969 due to industrial pollution, sparking national awareness of water pollution and leading to the Clean Water Act and the creation of the EPA.

Rachel Carson

Marine biologist and author of 'Silent Spring,' which exposed the dangers of pesticides, leading to the ban on DDT and the creation of the EPA.

Silent Spring impact on environmental policy

Raised public awareness of environmental damage caused by pesticides, spurring changes in national pesticide policy and the environmental movement.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Established in 1970 to protect human health and the environment by enforcing regulations to control air and water pollution and manage hazardous waste.

President Nixon's view on pollution

Acknowledged high costs of pollution control, stating clean air and water are not free, and past carelessness incurred a debt to nature.

Gaylord Nelson

U.S. Senator and founder of Earth Day, raising environmental awareness and leading to major environmental protection laws.

Earth Day impact on U.S. environmental policies

Led to a surge in environmental activism and influenced the passage of key legislation like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Paris Agreement

Adopted in 2015 to limit global warming below 2°C, with efforts to keep it below 1.5°C by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. involvement in the Paris Agreement

Joined under President Obama, withdrew under President Trump, and reentered under President Biden, reflecting inconsistent commitment to international climate efforts.

Greta Thunberg

Swedish climate activist known for school strikes challenging world leaders to take action on climate change.

Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth'

Brought global attention to climate change dangers, emphasizing greenhouse gases' role in global warming.

Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize

Shared with IPCC in 2007 for raising awareness about climate change.

Environmental challenges ahead

Include addressing climate change, resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and managing environmental inequities between regions and populations.

Globalization and environmental health

Increases demand for resources, leads to environmental degradation, and exacerbates health disparities, especially in developing countries.

Political and economic factors in environmental health disparities

Economic inequality and political decisions can lead to unequal exposure to environmental hazards, with marginalized communities facing higher risks.

Consequences of the Dust Bowl for agriculture

Approximately 35 million acres of land rendered useless for farming, forcing many farmers to migrate to more productive areas, particularly California.

Clean Water Act

Enacted in 1972 to regulate pollutants discharged into U.S. waters, following public outcry after events like the Cuyahoga River fire.

Cuyahoga River improvement

Water quality significantly improved, with fish now safe to eat from parts of the river, indicating recovery from heavy pollution.

Key events in rise of U.S. environmental movement

Include the Dust Bowl, Cuyahoga River fire, publication of 'Silent Spring,' and creation of Earth Day.

Modern environmentalism vs. early conservation efforts

Focuses on protecting ecosystems, addressing pollution, and ensuring resource sustainability for human health and biodiversity, beyond resource preservation.