Here is an interesting article by Pete DuPont. It details the improvement in air quality, etc. over the past 35 years.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110008416

When listening to Al Gore's rants, it is well to keep in mind the proclamations of other Gloom and Doomers. According to Paul Ehrlich's prediction we all died back during the 1980's. Young people who were not around back in the 1960's and 1970's should consider the past.