Final answer:
U.S. environmental policy is characterized by debates over resource management, pollution, and conflicts between economic interests and environmental conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recent history of environmental policy making in the U.S. has been marked by contentious debates and shifts in public and political attitudes towards conservation and resource management. The policy landscape has included disputes over old-growth forests, the Exxon Valdez oil spill prompting discussions on pollution and energy policy, the influence of the anti-regulatory "Wise Use" movement, and tensions between environmental and economic interests such as in rangeland and fisheries management.
Efforts like the Paris Agreement reflect proactive attempts at international collaboration on environmental issues, yet achieving consensus remains challenging given competing interests and perspectives between developed and developing nations.