Environmental Report:Air Quality Improving

Source: PRI; Greenwire
Despite public perception, air pollution has declined by 25% over the last three decades and toxic releases have dropped by more than 50% in 15 years, according to a new report published jointly by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy (AEI).

The study uses government data, including data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to examine long-term air and water quality trends, toxic chemicals and land use, as well as biodiversity issues. The report calls improvements in the environment "perhaps the greatest public-policy success story of the last generation."

"Many news stories give the impression that air quality is worsening, and that health problems form air pollutions are on the rise. However, since 1970, aggregate emissions of the six 'criteria' pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act have declined by 29%," the Pacific Research Institute said in its press release. "At the same time, the U.S. economy grew 150%, auto travel increase 143%, and total U.S. energy consumption increased 45%."

PRI has released the Index of Leading Environmental Indicators for the past eight years. PRI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in San Francisco. AEI is a think tank based in Washington DC.