History of Environmental Policy in the US

On January 1st of 1970, President Richard Nixon signed the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA), which established the President's Council on Environmental Quality. The NEPA is one of the earliest policies regarding environmental protection and is often referred to as the "environmental Magna Carta." In this same year, President Nixon signed the Clean Air Act making the US a global leader in environmental preservation. On December 2 of 1970, Nixon signed a bill creating the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an organization that protects human health and the environment through regulations and laws passed through Congress.  Then, in 1973 the UN held the first meeting of the Council of Environmental Ministers, at which the very first Environmental Action Programme was adopted by national government representatives.  These policies established in the early 70s were the first signs of an awareness of environmental issues.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_policy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Richard_M._Nixon,_ca._1935_-_1982_-_NARA_-_530679.jpg