1973 in the environment

This is a list of notable events relating to the environment in 1973. They relate to environmental law, conservation, environmentalism and environmental issues.

Events

• E. F. Schumacher publishes Small Is Beautiful .
• Jacques Cousteau founds the Cousteau Society.

March

• 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

• 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. ^[1] Adverse reproductive-system effects continued 40 years later to be found in the grandchildren of those who consumed tainted farm products. ^[2]

August

• 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. ^[3]

November

• The International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears was signed in Oslo, Norway.

December

• The Endangered Species Act was signed into law in the United States by President Richard Nixon. ^[4]

See also

• Environment portal

• Human impact on the environment
• List of environmental issues
• List of years in the environment

References

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Frohlich, Cliff (2006). Deep earthquakes. Cambridge University Press. p. 479. ISBN   978-0-521-82869-7 . Retrieved July 25, 2025.
4. United States. Endangered Species Act of 1973. Pub. L.   93–205 Approved 1973-12-27.