Systemic environmental degradation in the US: A legacy of policy choices and corporate influence
Original framing: “Long before Trump: How US policy has harmed the environment for decades” — Al Jazeera
Environmental harm in the US has deep roots in the 19th and 20th centuries, when industrial expansion and resource extraction were prioritized over ecological balance. Historical parallels include the Dust Bowl and the rise of the environmental movement in the 1970s, which saw both progress and regression.
The environmental degradation in the US is not the result of a single administration or policy shift, but a systemic failure rooted in corporate influence, historical patterns of resource extraction, and the marginalization of ecological knowledge.
Indigenous stewardship, scientific evidence, and global examples offer viable pathways forward, yet these are often excluded from mainstream discourse. To address this crisis, the US must adopt a multi-dimensional approach that includes regulatory reform, public investment, and the inclusion of marginalized voices. By learning from cross-cultural models and integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, the US can transition toward a more sustainable and just environmental governance system.