cant control forest fires but you can control gas engines. the sad thing is back in the 80 we had a car that gave 68 miles per gallon. why cant we do better now?
semp
Air quality around LA was worst in the 50's-70's, and improved a lot from there with emission controls on cars and industry.
I lived around LA from mid '80's to about 2000. The place is ringed by mountains, has onshore flow from the ocean, and temperature inversions at altitude. It is giant air-pollution trap. In the 50's, some folks suggested using underground nukes to blow a notch in the mountains to allow air flow. That would have been interesting.
The market (if you let it) gives folks what they want. If they want 68 mpg cars enough, someone would make money selling them. Lots of folks want and buy electric cars. Of course, in 2035 in CA, all new car sales will be electric (or at least that is the current plan -- we'll see if that is achievable). Air pollution in the LA basin will probably continue to improve.