What is the main objective of the Clean Air Act (CAA) enacted in 1972?

The main objective of the Clean Air Act (CAA), enacted in 1972, is to protect human and environmental health from air pollution. This legislation establishes comprehensive federal and state regulations to control air pollution and improve air quality across the United States. It mandates the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and enforce air quality standards that are designed to safeguard public health and the environment, addressing pollutants that can harm both.

The act outlines the framework for regulating emissions from various sources, such as industrial facilities and vehicles, and facilitates coordination between federal and state efforts to combat air quality issues. By focusing on protecting health and the environment, the CAA is essential in promoting cleaner air, which has vast benefits for public health and ecological systems.

The other options misrepresent the scope and focus of the CAA. While promoting renewable energy and addressing transportation emissions can be part of broader environmental strategies, they do not encapsulate the primary motive of the CAA. Similarly, managing water pollution controls falls under different legislation, such as the Clean Water Act, rather than the Clean Air Act.