Chapter 27: History of Environmental Legislation

Although the general background of environmental legislation is reviewed briefly, the main purpose of this chapter is to trace the history of legislation on the environment that targets transport specifically, particularly transport within and between urban areas and the environmental impacts that such transport typically generates. In addition, it is not feasible within the bounds of this chapter to provide a review of the history of legislation on transport and the environment from around the world. Therefore, environmental legislation in just two countries, the USA and Australia, will be concentrated on, with the aim of using these specific examples to trace the general development of environmental awareness, concerns, and legislation with particular application to transport. To those who may feel slighted by the omission of details on environmental history in their particular countries, the author apologizes, but hopes that this chapter will be considered of value, even with these admitted omissions.