The Clean Air Act is the name of any of several pieces of legislation aimed at reducing smog and other types of air pollution.
In the United States, the Clean Air Acts include the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, Clean Air Act of 1963, Air Quality Act of 1967, the Clean Air Act Extension of 1970, and Clean Air Act Amendments in 1977 and 1990. State and local governments have passed supplemental legislation to fill in gaps left by the federal mandates. The Clean Air Acts have addressed acid rain, ozone depletion, and the emission of atmospheric toxins. The laws have included provisions for emissions trading and a national permits program. The amendments established requirements for gasoline reformulation.
In Canada, there have been two acts with the name "Clean Air Act". The Clean Air Act of the 1970s regulated the atmospheric release of asbestos, lead, mercury, and vinyl chloride. This Act was replaced by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act in the year 2000. The second Clean Air Act (2006) was directed against smog and greenhouse gas emissions.
In the United Kingdom, the Clean Air Act of 1956 legislated zones for smokeless fuels and relocated power stations to rural areas. The Clean Air Act of 1968 introduced tall chimneys to disperse air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.
Impact of the Clean Air Acts
The legislation has led to the development of better pollution dispersion models. Critics say the Clean Air Acts have cut into corporate profits and have led companies to relocate, while proponents say the Acts have improved air quality, which has improved human and environmental health, and have created more jobs than they have eliminated.
It would be nice for you to comment on this Parker (I assume this is from you although you are not named as such). Perhaps your group peers will read and offer some comments as you offer the act policy but is it being followed by business/ does it help?
ReplyDeleteYes this is Parker. Many Clean Air Acts have been established throughout the decades in Canada and many other countries. These Acts do make a remarkable difference in the world today. Greenhouse gases are destroying our atmosphere and as human beings, we are very responsible for this problem!
DeleteGreat article Parker. I would be interested in also finding out the state of the Clean Air Act today, since the most recent reference to one was Canada's in 2006, and there (hopefully) should have been some more progress by now! If I find anything interesting, I will post it. Nonetheless, it is good to hear about the things that governments are doing to try to help with environmental matters and not just the problems that are occurring!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Morgan!
DeleteThis is interesting stuff Parker, well written, good to shed light on the effort that the government are trying to make on the environment. It also brings attention to how long the effort has been made on the environment- since 1955! in the last paragraph, as for me, I also believe that the clean air acts have been more of a help than harm.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ada!
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