Silent Spring published

The book by environmental scientist Rachel Carson documents the harm of pesticides . It ’ s fiercely opposed by chemical companies but strong public opinion prompts then-President Richard Nixon to drive through Congress approval of a new body to consolidate federal environmental responsibilities : the Environmental Protection Agency .

Bhopal / Cheronobyl disasters

The Bhopal catastrophe in 1984 sees a catastrophic leak from the Union Carbide ’ s India plant expose 500,000 people to toxic gases . An estimated 20,000 die . In 1986 an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine sends radioactive fallout across Europe . The official death toll is 31 , but Greenpeace puts the final direct and indirect death toll through the effects of radiationat 200,000 .

World Conservation Strategy

The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) begins work on its World Conservation Strategy , in conjunction with various United Nations ( UN ) agencies . It leads to an acceptance that conservation through the banning of human presence no longer works . The IUCN ’ s World Charter for Nature is soon adopted by the UN General Assembly .

14 January 2022