As the century progressed, Seattle’s abundant resources and natural amenities began to deteriorate as urban density increased and demand soared. City agencies and leadership responded with cleanup programs focused on water quality and efforts to reduce energy use. Those initiatives grew in the 1980s and 1990s, adding ambitious efforts to reduce water use and increase recycling rates. Seattle became a leader in city-led conservation programs. At the same time, as civil rights movements raised awareness, demands grew for better representation of diverse communities.