On August 31, 1988, George H. W. Bush gave a progressive campaign speech on the environment, touching on many issues present still today.

After becoming the 41st President he appointed the first environmentalist, William Reilly ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_K._Reilly ), to head the EPA.

However, in 1992 he refused to sign the international biodiversity treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversity and a climate change treaty, on limiting global carbon dioxide emissions.

• CSPAN AUGUST 31, 1988 Bush Campaign Speech https://www.c-span.org/video/?4248-1/bush-campaign-speech
• Environmental policy of the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_policy_of_the_United_States#The_George_H._W._Bush_Administration_.281989.E2.80.931993.29
• A CLOSER LOOK; Ecology, the Economy and Bush (1992 The New York Times)
  http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/14/weekinreview/a-closer-look-ecology-the-economy-and-bush.html

Related

George H.W. Bush 1990 on Climate Change https://climatestate.com/2017/04/21/the-strong-climate-and-environmental-message-from-bush-1988/