In the 1970s, cities like New York and Los Angeles were choking on smog. Breathing clean air was not a given — it was a battle. Today, thanks to decades of policy, science, and persistence, millions of lives have been saved.
When I began my career in 1970, air pollution was visible. You could see it, smell it, and feel it in your lungs. Cars belched smoke. Rivers burned. Children grew up with chronic respiratory problems.
The creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air Act marked a turning point. For the first time, governments had real tools to regulate pollution and hold industries accountable.
What many people don’t realize is that these changes didn’t happen overnight. They took years of political battles, lawsuits, scientific studies, and public pressure. Every regulation was contested. Every standard was attacked.
Yet the results speak for themselves:
- Vehicle emissions dropped by more than 90% for major pollutants.
- Life expectancy increased.
- Entire cities were transformed.
This progress proves something powerful: environmental protection works. It saves lives, strengthens economies, and creates a better future — if we are willing to fight for it.