This Week in Climate Change - The Clean Air Act

This Week's Historical Theme: Climate Change

 

17 December 1963

 

A significant event throughout the history of climate change that occurred in December was the Clean Air Act, passed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This was one of the first major pieces of environmental legislation in the United States, which empowered federal and state agencies to research and regulate air pollution. This marked a major expansion of government efforts to fight back against the damage being done to the climate. Before this, in 1955, the Air Pollution Control Act had allocated $15 million to the study of air pollution across the country. The research conducted revealed that further legislation would be needed.

 

The landmark act, as well as its subsequent amendments, comprised of some of the most comprehensive air-quality legislation in the world. Shortly after its creation in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency began using its powers under the Clean Air Act to set quality standards for areas that had been affected by air pollution. It has subsequently been invoked to ban specific harmful chemicals and tackle specific environmental issues, like acid rain. Even though there is a long way to go, national emissions after the act dropped 63%, despite overall economic growth and an increase in the number of miles driven.

 

Want to find out more about the Clean Air Acts? Click here for more information, or here for more about the history of climate change.