Since the 1970s, environmentalists have largely succeeded in convincing legislators to enact extensive environmental regulations.
Evidence
Since the 1970s, environmentalists have largely succeeded in convincing legislators to enact extensive environmental regulations.
Yet, as environmentalists themselves not only admit but insist, the condition of the environment is worsening, not improving.
Conclusion
Clearly, more environmental regulations are not the solution to the environment’s problems.
Evaluate
The argument points out that the environment has worsened during the time environmental regulations have existed. But that doesn’t mean that environmental regulations won’t fix the problem. It’s possible that while they were helpful, they were insufficient. The argument involves a relative comparison that could have been worse in the absence of the environmental regulations.