The report documents that from 1996-2005, the United States reduced pollution during a period when there was a 10 percent increase in the size of the nation’s population and a 30 percent increase in gross domestic product.
OECD's Environmental Performance Reviews program assists member countries in improving their environmental management performance by assessing progress, promoting a policy dialogue among member countries and stimulating greater accountability from governments towards public opinion. This is the second review of the United States, with the first review completed in 1996.
"Since the first review in 1996, the health of our shared environment and the strength of our national economy have experienced dramatic improvement," says EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. "By reaffirming our commitment to innovation, accountability and sound science, we have created a solid footing to meet the environmental challenges facing the U.S. in the 21st Century."
The report commends the United States for being a pioneer in market-based solutions, innovative policies and partnerships for an improved environment. Noting this progress, the review commends the United States for "decoupling" environmental pressures from economic growth and details progress in a number of key areas, including:
• Declining emissions of major air pollutants
• Strengthening drinking water standards
• Improving overall quality of the water supplied by public systems
• Expanding system of national conservation areas
The review also includes 51 specific recommendations for the United States to continue its leadership in the field of environmental protection, such as expansion of the role of market-based instruments and continued promotion of environmental education and awareness, especially at state and local levels.
This U.S. review was based on a series of more than 700 interviews conducted by OECD's review team during a two-week visit to the United States in the summer of 2004. The peer review team included members from Australia, Japan, Norway, and the United Kingdom, together with OECD Secretariat staff.
OECD superseded the previous Organization for European Economic Cooperation, founded in 1948 to coordinate the post-war Marshall Plan for European economic recovery. Thirty member countries work together to promote economic expansion and world trade.
