--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift…" description: "\"The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong response that changed policies about shipping, about double-hulled construction. A number of laws c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/sylvia-earle-1756_changed_the-exxon-valdez-spill-triggered-a-swift_952134.jpg" --- # The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong… ![“The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong response that changed policies about shipping, about double-hulled construction. A number of laws came into place.” quote by Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/sylvia-earle-1756_changed_the-exxon-valdez-spill-triggered-a-swift_952134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/sylvia-earle-1756_changed_the-exxon-valdez-spill-triggered-a-swift_952134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/sylvia-earle-1756_changed_the-exxon-valdez-spill-triggered-a-swift_952134.jpg) > “The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong response that changed policies about shipping, about double-hulled construction. A number of laws came into place.” [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The disaster prompted rapid regulatory changes, especially mandating double‑hulled tankers to prevent future spills. **In simple terms:** The spill led to stricter shipping rules. Key Takeaway Advocate for stronger environmental safeguards. Themes environmental policy maritime safety regulation Mood concerned determined Type policy historical environmental When to use this quote - shipping industry compliance - government legislation - corporate responsibility Key Concepts risk management preventive engineering public pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure new regulations are enforced? - What incentives motivate companies to adopt safer designs? A Different Perspective Implementation can be slow and face industry resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ## Related quotes > [Exxon fought claims resulting from the Exxon Valdez spill in court for 20 years. Alabama could have suffered the same fate. What would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-strange/exxon-fought-claims-resulting-from-the-exxon-valdez-spill-in-court/) [Luther Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-strange/) > [When the Exxon Valdez spilled in 1989, I was angry. I even wrote on the back of my car, Boycott Exxon!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-paul/when-the-exxon-valdez-spilled-in-1989-i-was-angry-i-even-wrote-on-the/) [Alexandra Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-paul/) > [Ecologically speaking, a spilt tanker load is like sticking a safety pin into an elephant's foot. The planet barely notices. After the Exxon Valdez…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/ecologically-speaking-a-spilt-tanker-load-is-like-sticking-a-safety/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [“You’ve heard of the famous Exxon Valdez tanker spill, where a tanker ran into the rocks in Alaska. Thirty million gallons of crude oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/you-ve-heard-of-the-famous-exxon-valdez-tanker-spill-where-a-tanker/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [What people unfortunately relate to when they think of Alaska oil was when the Exxon Valdez went aground because of a captain that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/what-people-unfortunately-relate-to-when-they-think-of-alaska-oil-was/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [“A quick quiz. What do the following events have in common? The war in Iraq. The Exxon Valdez oil spill. The rise in America’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/a-quick-quiz-what-do-the-following-events-have-in-common-the-war-in/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [My second ex-wife was really kind of like a ship passing in the night. Only she turned out to be the Exxon Valdez.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/my-second-ex-wife-was-really-kind-of-like-a-ship-passing-in-the-night/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [How can we teach our children to be responsible beyond themselves and care for other human beings' welfare and for the welfare of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-reuben/how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-be-responsible-beyond-themselves-and/) [Gloria Reuben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-reuben/) > [Oh, so that's why you're up here. For a pity party." "This isn't a joke. I'm serious." I could tell Lissa was getting angry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/oh-so-that-s-why-you-re-up-here-for-a-pity-party-this-isn-t-a-joke-i/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“A shipper thrives on emotional scraps, stolen glances and did-they-or-didn't-they tension.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/a-shipper-thrives-on-emotional-scraps-stolen-glances-and-did-they-or/) tumblr > [“Don't simply dream, create. Don't simply create, ship. Don't simply ship, dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/don-t-simply-dream-create-don-t-simply-create-ship-don-t-simply-ship/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Having a tax code that rewards companies that are shipping jobs overseas instead of companies that are investing here in the United States, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/having-a-tax-code-that-rewards-companies-that-are-shipping-jobs/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Shipping first time code is like going into debt. A little debt speeds development so long as it is paid back promptly with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/shipping-first-time-code-is-like-going-into-debt-a-little-debt-speeds/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [One of the things I like about my job is that it draws on the entire person: not just your knowledge of grammar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-norris/one-of-the-things-i-like-about-my-job-is-that-it-draws-on-the-entire/) [Mary Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-norris/) > [I think Mitt Romney has demonstrated repeatedly he has a penchant for - for secrecy, doesn't seem to have any interest in actually showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-think-mitt-romney-has-demonstrated-repeatedly-he-has-a-penchant-for/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) ## More by Sylvia Earle > [We still have 10 percent of the sharks. We still have half of the coral reefs. However, if we wait another 50 years, opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-still-have-10-percent-of-the-sharks-we-still-have-half-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Health to the ocean means health for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/health-to-the-ocean-means-health-for-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Evolution is not something to be feared. It's to be celebrated, embraced, and understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/evolution-is-not-something-to-be-feared-it-s-to-be-celebrated/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [We are depleting this immense diversity and abundance of life, and it matters tremendously for the future of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-depleting-this-immense-diversity-and-abundance-of-life-and-it/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [My mother was known as the 'bird lady' of the neighborhood. Anything injured, or any unusual creature somebody found, they would always come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/my-mother-was-known-as-the-bird-lady-of-the-neighborhood-anything/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/there-is-this-sweet-spot-in-time-when-we-have-an-opportunity-to-stop/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've always said, 'Underwater or on top, men and women are compatible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-always-said-underwater-or-on-top-men-and-women-are-compatible/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [With respect to the ocean being the heart of our blue planet: We are often asked, 'How much protection is enough?' We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/with-respect-to-the-ocean-being-the-heart-of-our-blue-planet-we-are/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [If the sea is sick, we'll feel it. If it dies, we die. Our future and the state of the oceans are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/if-the-sea-is-sick-we-ll-feel-it-if-it-dies-we-die-our-future-and-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The ocean seemed like a sea of Eden. But now we are facing paradise lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-ocean-seemed-like-a-sea-of-eden-but-now-we-are-facing-paradise/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When you think about the real cost of so-called cheap energy that has driven our prosperity to unprecedented levels, for some of us, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-you-think-about-the-real-cost-of-so-called-cheap-energy-that-has/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-i-arrived-on-the-planet-there-were-only-two-billion-wildlife-was/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've had the joy of spending thousands of hours under the sea. I wish I could take people along to see what I see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-had-the-joy-of-spending-thousands-of-hours-under-the-sea-i-wish/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The observations that have developed over the years have given us perspective about where we fit in. We are newcomers, really recent arrivals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-observations-that-have-developed-over-the-years-have-given-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) [Explore all 211 Sylvia Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More Changed quotes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. 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I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [You changed my life, don't know what you're doing to me with your love. You got me feeling super human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-changed-my-life-don-t-know-what-you-re-doing-to-me-with-your-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) Browse all 6,529 Changed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Exxon Valdez spill triggered a swift and strong response that changed policies about shipping, about double-hulled construction. 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