## Environment
The United States spans a very wide range of environments, from Arctic Alaska to subtropical Florida, deserts, prairies, mountains, temperate forests, wetlands, and island ecosystems.
### Environmental profile
- The country contains extensive biodiversity and large protected landscapes. - Environmental conditions vary greatly by region and season. - Major issues include climate change, wildfire risk, air pollution in some metropolitan and industrial corridors, drought, water stress, sea-level rise, habitat fragmentation, and storm impacts.
### Air quality
- Air quality is generally monitored through federal and state systems. - Conditions are often good in many regions, but can worsen due to: - Wildfire smoke - Ozone in large metropolitan areas - Industrial emissions - Dust and temperature inversions in certain valleys and basins - The EPA’s AirNow system is a standard public source for daily air quality updates.
### Water quality
- Drinking water quality is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. - Surface waters and groundwater quality vary by watershed and local infrastructure. - Issues in some areas include agricultural runoff, aging pipes, industrial contamination, drought, saltwater intrusion, and stormwater pollution.
### Protected areas
The U.S. has an extensive network of protected lands, including:
- **National parks** - **National forests** - **National wildlife refuges** - **Marine sanctuaries** - **State parks** - **Wilderness areas** - **Tribal conservation lands**
### Sustainability and climate action
- Climate and sustainability efforts are pursued at federal, state, tribal, county, and city levels. - Many states and cities have renewable energy targets, emissions plans, resilience initiatives, and water conservation programs. - Recycling, composting, transit investment, and green building policies vary widely by locality.
### Recycling and waste
- Recycling systems differ significantly by state and municipality. - Bottle-deposit systems exist in some states. - Composting is growing in some urban areas but is not universal. - Landfilling remains a major disposal method, alongside incineration in some places.
### Environmental institutions
| Area | Main types of oversight | |---|---| | Air | U.S. EPA, state environmental agencies | | Water | EPA, state agencies, local utilities, watershed authorities | | Parks | National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, state park systems | | Wildlife | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, state wildlife agencies | | Weather and climate | NOAA, National Weather Service |
### Key environmental themes
- Western wildfire resilience - Coastal adaptation and sea-level rise - Clean energy transition - Protection of rivers, wetlands, and biodiversity - Urban heat mitigation - Environmental justice in communities affected by pollution