Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1

1980–89Rise of a strong anti-environmental movement.1980s1985 Scientists discover annualseasonal thinning of the ozonelayer above Antarctica.1984 Toxic fumes leaking frompesticide plant in Bhopal, India,kill at least 6,000 people and injure50,000–60,000. Lester R. Brownpublishes first annual State of the World report.1986 Explosion of Chernobylnuclear power plant in Ukraine.Times Beach, Missouri,evacuated and boughtby EPA because ofdioxin contamination.1983 U.S. EPA and National Academy of Sciences publishreports finding that build-up of carbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gases will lead to global warming.1980 Superfund law passed to clean up abandoned toxic wastedumps. Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act protects42 billion hectares (104 million acres) of land in Alaska.1987 Montreal Protocolto halve emissions ofozone-depletingCFCs signed by24 countries.International BaselConvention controlsmovement ofhazardous wastesfrom one countryto another.1989 Exxon Valdezoil tankeraccident inAlaska's PrinceWilliam Sound.1988 Industry-backedwise-use movementestablished to weakenand destroy U.S.environmental movement.Biologist E. O. Wilsonpublishes Biodiversity,detailing how humanactivities are affectingthe earth's diversityof species.1980sFigure 5 Some important environmental events during the 1980s.A6 APPENDIX 2