We all recognize that in recent decades many important achievements have helped create a cleaner healthier environment yet our national needs in environmental health are not being fully met.

In the rich world the environmental situation has improved dramatically. In the United States the most important environmental indicator particulate air pollution has been cut by more than half since 1955 rivers and coastal waters have dramatically improved and forests are increasing.

I decided that now is the time to start doing the things that really interest me and I find important. It was in the 10 years of the MacArthur grant that I began working on my first book... and I began putting more work into environmental history.

Ted Turner is still a leader. And he sets a great example. His ability financially has been reduced but his influence and his example still is an important asset to the whole environmental movement.

The most important environmental issue is one that is rarely mentioned and that is the lack of a conservation ethic in our culture.

Americans don't pay much attention to environmental issues because they aren't sexy. I mean cleaning up coal plants and reining in outlaw frackers is hugely important work but it doesn't get anybody's pulse racing.

Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever.

I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth environmental protection improvements in our educational system.

I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?

If bringing up the next generation is important why aren't they the best qualified the best paid? Why aren't we as concerned about their career progression as we are about those who work in the education or health services?