Final answer:
Environmental quality being a public good signifies that everyone benefits from a cleaner environment regardless of who pays for it, fitting the characteristics of non-exclusion and non-rivalry in consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental quality is considered to be a public good. This means that C. everyone enjoys a cleaner environment regardless of who pays for it. Public goods are typically non-excludable and non-rivalrous, which means that one person's consumption does not reduce its availability to others, and people cannot be effectively excluded from using them. Environmental quality, such as clean air or water, fits into this category because it is difficult to prevent anyone from enjoying the benefits of a clean environment once it is provided, and one's enjoyment of clean air does not diminish another's.
The problem of pollution and environmental protection is a global concern that impacts public health, various industries, property values, and general enjoyment of nature. Governments and economists strive to balance environmental quality with economic activities by implementing a mixture of policies, including command-oriented and market-oriented approaches to control pollution and reduce its social costs. The benefits of a cleaner environment include tangible economic improvements and intangible satisfaction that enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities alike.