Has air and water quality improved in some regions?

Yes. In many developed nations, strict environmental laws have reduced air pollution and cleaned waterways. The U.S. Clean Air Act, for example, cut emissions of major pollutants by 78% since 1970. Similarly, rivers like the Thames in London and the Rhine in Germany, once biologically dead, now support thriving ecosystems. Challenges persist in rapidly industrializing regions, where pollution remains high. Media literacy helps contextualize environmental data, showing that progress is possible with regulation and innovation. Evidence confirms that societies can reverse environmental damage with sustained effort, policy, and technology.