1973 in the environment
| List of years in the environment |
|---|
| (table) |
This is a list of notable events relating to the environment in 1973. They relate to environmental law, conservation, environmentalism and environmental issues.
Events
[edit]- E. F. Schumacher publishes Small Is Beautiful.
- Jacques Cousteau founds the Cousteau Society.
- A number of protected areas were established in 1973, including the Essex Region of Western Ontario, Canada.[1]
March
[edit]- World Conservation Union (IUCN) meeting drafts the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which starts being signed on 3 March 1973.
Summer
[edit]- Several thousand pounds of polybrominated biphenyls were accidentally mixed with livestock feed that was distributed to farms in Michigan, because the plant also produced a feed precursor ingredient, magnesium oxide, which was sold to the feed manufacturer.[2] Adverse reproductive-system effects continued 40 years later to be found in the grandchildren of those who consumed tainted farm products.[3]
August
[edit]- The snail darter controversy delayed the construction of the Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River in the United States when the snail darter fish was discovered in the river.
- An earthquake of 7.1 magnitude strikes Veracruz, Mexico on August 28, causing extensive damage to buildings and the environment, killing at least 600 people.[4]
November
[edit]- The International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears was signed in Oslo, Norway.
December
[edit]- The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in the United States by President Richard Nixon.[5] This mandated the first Habitat Conservation Plans.
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ "ERCA - Essex Region Conservation Authority - Nature Education in Windsor / Essex". ERCA. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ Carter, Luther J (1976-04-16). "Michigan's PBB incident: Chemical Mix-Up Leads to Disaster". Science. 192 (4236): 240–243. doi:10.1126/science.192.4236.240. PMID 17831151.
- ↑ Rebecca Williams (2014). "40 years after toxic mix-up, researchers continue to study Michiganders poisoned by PBB". Michigan Public Media, The Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved 2014-11-13.
- ↑ Frohlich, Cliff (2006). Deep earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. p. 479. ISBN 978-0-521-82869-7. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- ↑ United States. Endangered Species Act of 1973. Pub. L. 93–205 Approved 1973-12-27.