The environment is the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the ground we walk on, our homes, and the changing the weather and seasons. It is also what we can’t see: pollutants and toxins in the air; the water supply underground; and gases produced by industrial processes and vehicle emissions that affect public health and change the earth’s atmosphere. The earth’s population has doubled since 1950 and is projected to increase by 50% again by 2050, with most growth in developing nations. Most scientists agree on the need to improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources to support the Earth’s population without overwhelming its natural systems.

OVERVIEW

Boston’s environmental inventory includes the nation’s first public open space, the Boston Common, dating to 1630; the famed  “Emerald Necklace” park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th century