Ben Dresdow

Environmental Science

Franklin Chen PhD

26 March 2019

Air Pollution, what is the Right way to Deal with it?

Over the years air pollution has experienced plenty of heated debate within American society, and with all this clamor, it can become monumentally difficult to have a realistic discussion about its impact on the environment, and within the lives of people. In a country such as the U.S., it is vitally important to understand a wide array of  notable political issues, especially ones as far reaching as concerns regarding the state of the world’s environments. As the relationship between politics and air pollution are observed, it can be seen that many different ideas on the issue exist, these ideologies impact policy on the matters, and ultimately a wide range of factors must be taken into account when discussing this complicated subject.

Over the years that air pollution has become a popular issue to debate, differing mindsets have come to the forefront to discuss the issue. Those who fear the consequences related to air pollution typically highlight the deaths related to particulates resulting from the burning of coal, and as a result call for a phasing out the coal industry. Per the Lancet, it is estimated that 1,200 in France have been caused as a result of smog originating from neighboring countries (Lancet, 2016.). Given these effects, it is valid for there to be concern regarding air pollution, and important that nations come together and search for viable solutions. The common assumption to solve these issues is to implement government policies, and subsidize clean energy markets, but these ideas also have their respective issues. The goal of subsidizing markets such as wind and solar is to make them more competitive in the eyes of consumers, however it is observed that subsidies have the potential to hurt these industries in the long run and damage the national and  global economy. Camilo Patrignani, the CEO of Greenwood Energy(a solar power company) outlined a plan for eliminating the solar investment tax credit(a 30% tax break) back in 2016. He argued that solar companies are growing more profitable and efficient, and as a result, much more affordable to American consumers (Tubb, 2015). Subsidies may not be the best use of government resources in the fight against air pollution, as it can drain government resources without conclusively improving the markets of clean energy. Market demand for solar and wind energy is already increasing, and has reliably for the last couple years, and therefore a natural shift should continue to be made towards these practices, without spending large sums of government money. The green technological revolution is being spearheaded by industries and companies, who have investigated utilizing algae for gasoline, nuclear energy, and more highly efficient practices. In order to solve the issues of air pollution, it is important to rely on the visions of entrepreneurs. Air pollution proves to be a complicated issue, with a wide array of opinions. Ultimately, for the U.S. to continue to be a leader in world politics, it is essential to allow the strongest entrepreneurial minds to drive forth the markets of clean, renewable energy.

References

Patrignani, C. (2015, January 13). A Solar CEO Wants To End The Investment Tax
Credit. Why? Retrieved from Clean Technica website:
https://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/13/
a-solar-ceo-wants-to-end-the-investment-tax-credit-why/

The Lancet. (2016). Air pollution—crossing borders. The Lancet,388(10040), 103.

Tubb, K. (2015, February 4). 5 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Keep Subsidizing Wind
And Solar Energy. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/energy-economics/
commentary/5-reasons-why-we-shouldnt-keep-subsidizing-wind-and-solar-energy
website:

Chance Kangas

Env Sci 102

3/27/19

Air Pollution and Solutions Actively Discussed Through Class Lecture:

Air pollution is a devastating consequence of fossil fuels such the burning of coal in powerplants, the vast amount of gas cars within the United States, and agricultural activities to name a few. Within this paper I will conclude the harsh amount of consequences from these manmade processes that inflict tremendous damage on humans and animals.

We have discussed in class that the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum emit sulfur dioxide that damages not only humans breathing air, but animals as well. From Urban Sprawl, as discussed from lecture, 79% of Americans and 51% of the world lives in an urban area. Because of this, pollution from powerplants, and exhaust of cars are confined in populated area, rather than a desolate area resulting in immense multiplication of polluted air that swells and consumes our precious air. Our ecological footprint particularly in the United States has increased ever since the colonialization of The New World.

We rely on this pollution creating machinery to fulfill our daily lives and needs of transportation. But there are many alternatives that reduce air pollution and the side effects such as electric cars. Electric cars are becoming more abundant by leading car companies and the prices are affordable for middle- and higher-class families. Electric cars do not have exhaust and therefore cannot produce such terrible toxins. Depletion of quality air is also a result from the combustion of fossil fuels which are largely contributed by manufacturing industries and powerplants. A solution to these manufacturing industries is to take steps to manage their greenhouse gas emissions by preparing yearly/annual greenhouse gas emissions and to set goals for reducing these fumes in the long run. Another solution is to increase their energy efficiency by implementing management programs, and to buy renewable energy. Taking these steps will dramatically reduce air pollution from a manufacturing and powerplant standpoint.

Agriculture has become industrialized as we have learned from class teachings. Industrial farming has increased production of food needed for survival, but at the expense of environmental problems. The use of fertilizers has devastated and degraded the land, water and air. Rainwater has been able to sweep these harmful chemicals and help spread them to new areas, slowly contaminating and destroying life and air. In order to diminish this horrible conflict, monoculture can be replaced by polyculture so multiple varieties of food and vegetation can be grew in smaller particular areas of land, and in the same areas’ monoculture has been provided. Solutions to these destructive fertilizers in less-developed countries include using animal manure that offer more nutrients to the crop/plant, while in more-developed countries, they can retain nitrogen in the ground in order to plant winter cover crops, since nitrogen is generally heavily produced in the spring and winter due to heavier rainfall.

Within this paper, the solutions to the problematic ideas of modern-day life and air pollution have been discovered. Through extensive research and participating in any way possible to reduce an individual and companies gas emissions, our polluted air can slowly cease to exist, and we can retain our quality and clean air.

Bibliography/Sources Cited:

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php

https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-fossil-fuels

http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/solutions_nutrient_runoff.html