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Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (US)
This amendment prohibits the approval of any food additive found to cause cancer in humans or animals, regardless of the dose. It reflects a zero-tolerance policy for carcinogenic substances in processed foods. -
Clean Air Act (US)
This U.S. law aimed to control air pollution on a national level by authorizing the development of federal and state regulations to limit emissions from both stationary (industrial) and mobile (vehicle) sources. It was significantly amended in 1970, 1977, and 1990 to expand regulatory authority and address issues like acid rain and ozone depletion. -
Clean Water Act (US)
This U.S. law regulates the discharge of pollutants into the nation's surface waters and sets quality standards for waterways. Its goal is to ensure that all U.S. waters are safe for fishing, swimming, and other uses. -
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (INT)
CITES aims to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. It establishes a system of international cooperation and regulation to monitor and restrict trade in endangered species, categorizing them into three appendices based on their conservation status. -
Endangered Species Act (US)
This U.S. law aims to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It provides a framework for conserving and protecting endangered and threatened plants and animals and their habitats. -
Safe Drinking Water Act (US)
This U.S. law ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water by authorizing the EPA to set and enforce standards for public water systems. It also oversees state and local water suppliers to protect against both natural and man-made contaminants. -
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US)
This U.S. law gives the EPA authority to control hazardous waste from its creation to disposal, including treatment, storage, and cleanup. It also sets guidelines for managing non-hazardous solid waste to promote resource conservation and environmental protection. -
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Act (US)
CERCLA, also known as the Superfund law, established a federal program to clean up hazardous waste sites and respond to environmental emergencies. It holds responsible parties liable for the release of hazardous substances and provides funding for cleanup efforts when responsible parties cannot be identified. -
Montreal Protocol (INT)
This international treaty aims to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs. It is considered one of the most successful environmental agreements, with broad global participation and measurable recovery of the ozone layer. -
Kyoto Protocol (INT)
This international treaty committed industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and human-made CO₂ emissions are a primary cause. It established legally binding targets for 37 countries and the European Union.