That's what always happened, people think that the way the environment was was when they were younger was the ways it always was or should be, With each generation the poorer environment is seen as normal because we keep resetting the standards
Well, our parents inherited a world polluted by cars without emissions controls and factories without somestack "scrubbers." They improved things over that state. Then we came along and insisted on being driven everywhere.
Me: GrAnDpA wHy DiDnT yOu SaVe ThE pLaNeT? That’s you that’s how you sound!!