1970 – The U.S. creates the Environmental
Protection Agency.
1971 – Department of the Environment formed in Canada.
1972 – Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada. Amended in 1978 and 1987.
1976 – The Environmental Assessment Act, which legally requires planning and approval of certain projects, is passed in Ontario.
1980 – The World Conservation Strategy is prepared by the UN Environment Program, World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
1992 – The UN Rio Conference on Environment and Development is held. This conference, also called Earth Summit, led to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
1995 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, which requires environmental assessments of projects involving the federal government, is passed.
2000 – The Canadian Environmental Protection Act comes into effect, with a focus on pollution prevention and sustainable development.
2005 – The Kyoto Protocol goes into effect Feb. 16, after 141 countries ratified it.
2007 – The Endangered Species Act is passed in Ontario.
2009 – The Green Energy Act is passed in Ontario, with a focus on renewable energy and conservation.
Sources:
– Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability
– The Canadian Biodiversity website
– Environmental Defence