The primary objective of this paper is to highlight on potential strategies of minimizing air pollution. With the world faced with an enormous challenge with regards to the associated adverse effects on air pollution then a redress is promptly necessary (globally 4.2 million deaths occur yearly due to health complications arising from air pollution). Some countries are doing effectively in managing the adverse incident while some lag behind. In reference to the case of the United States, the enactment of the Clean Air Act has impacted the country following the recorded 70% declines of emissions from the year 1970, with cars manufactured presently 99% effective in terms of pollution than those manufactured before the enactment. Other countries must adopt similar approaches in their quest for a pollution free environment (air). The research utilizes a qualitative methodology as evidenced with the extensive consideration to the past studies and other kinds of literature.
Introduction.
Air is an inevitable transfer medium of environmental pollution to people (Portney 47). Indeed, when water or food is contaminated then such can be avoided while in contrast air is inevitably breathed in an environment in which people stay or pass. Mostly, the harmful effect of air pollution poses not only adversarial implications to the human life but also the general ecosystem. Nonetheless, the most notable detrimental impact is connected to endangered human health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.2 million deaths occur in the world every year as a result of the exposure to ambient air for instance (World Health Report 2018-Online). That could be attributed to the expansive industrialization process that the world is currently undergoing. Anthropogenic emissions of various kinds are presently produced enormously (primary pollutants), which lead to the development of new pollutions resulting from some chemical reactions in the atmosphere (World Health Report 2018-Online). The primary focus of this paper is to extensively explore the global burden of air pollution and importantly offer insights with regards to effective practices of reducing air pollution.
Materials and Methods.
The research paper is developed with a practice-based research method. The method entails the adoption of case studies and the evidence/ performance based examination methodology. That will be executed with an extensive literature review on studies conducted recently regarding environmental management, with a keen interest in air pollution. Importantly, with readily available information regarding the same on the internet for instance then the adopted technique will be essential in saving both time and financial resources.
Literature Review.
Numerous attempts have been made with an attempt of controlling the damaging effect of air pollution. For instance, the United States in 1970 enacted Clean Air Act with amendments later executed in 1970 and 1990 with an objective of affirming the government’s commitment towards protection of the human health and importantly the environment from possible adverse effects of air pollution (Innes 522). The Environmental Protection Agency under this is placed with the mandate to regulate emissions of pollutants that engender human health and welfare. In those regards, the legislation in its 40 years’ period has been instrumental in cutting dangerous pollutions in the country ultimately yield immense health benefits as reflected to the disease prevention, where it is reported that over 400,000 premature deaths and million cases of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments are avoided (Innes 522). As such, the enactment of the Clean Air Act and the particular amendments have been identified as hugely beneficial in minimizing or rather mitigating potentially increased incidences of air pollution in the United States.
Extracted from: EPA GOV-Web
It is notable from the above illustration that between 1970 and 2017, the combined emission of the common air pollutants declined with about 73% (EPA GOV-Web). Indeed, it is outward that such has come along with increased population and an upward trajectory on the gross domestic product as such a manifestation that environmental protection is instrumental to economic vibrancy and growth. That is based on the consideration that such a mechanism is impactful in reduction of ailments, which pose potential negative implication on the general productivity of a country.
Extracted from: EPA GOV-Web
Before the enactment of the legal provision, vehicle emission were identified as a leading cause of air pollution as postulated by Linn (112). However, since the enactment of the Clean Air Act and the following amendments, there has been a dramatic reduction of emissions from the motor vehicles and the non-road engines in the form of the marine vessels, agricultural, industries, and trains. That is in connection to the fact that new vehicles are now 99% cleaner for the common pollutants than the 1970s models.
There are some diverging viewpoints regarding the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act. One is noted in the case where research identifies the legal provision connected with various hurdles for instance inability of the Environmental Protection Agency to fully implement indicating that the Supreme Court has the last say on various decisions it makes (Adler& Nathaniel 167). Indeed, it is quite demotivating to arrest officials of a company based on multiple violation, for instance, gas emission from an industrial activity only for them to be freed by the Supreme Court on the basis of other legal consideration. The Environmental Protection Agency must be provided with a total power of ensuring stringent adherence to the environmental issues particularly with respects to the air pollution following the attached detrimental effect (Adler& Nathaniel 167).
Another mechanism of reducing air pollution is through public enlightenment regarding the best approaches of minimizing the damaging effect of air pollution. It is worth noting that a considerable contribution to air pollution is attached to various domestic use (Franklin 207). It is exceedingly essential particularly in the developing countries to sensitize on the adoption of best-fit strategies that minimize pollutions. That calls for an active engagement between the public, government and the non-governmental organization in the fighting of the vice. For instance, the government should emphasize the adoption of clean energy by heavily taxing fuels that create more emission, for example, charcoal and coal in the industries (Franklin 212). In return, fuels that pose a low effect on air pollution should, on the other hand, be exempted from taxes on supported by an effective subsidy program. That, in essence, will be a significant milestone towards environmental protection as such its adoption is greatly encouraged.
Results and Discussion.
With the world faced with an increased threat of air pollution and consequently increased possibility of high death rates then a potential redress is necessary. As evidenced on the paper, one of the effective approaches of curbing air pollution is through the institution of control mechanism that illegalizes any act that leads to environmental contamination. The United States is doing pretty well as reflected by the presented statistics, where since the enactment of the Clean Air Act, common air pollutants have been reduced to a magnitude of 73%, which is absolutely incredible. Also, today’s machineries are 99% cleaner than the 1970s models, which in essence is a manifestation of the incredible strides achieved in the short time frame. Indeed, that is an indication that institution of effective mechanism with regards to the control measures is greatly essential in mitigating air pollution. Other countries must follow suit in line with the attainment of a world free from air pollution.
It is also essential to note air pollution reduction is dependent on the public and government goodwill. That is reflected in government involvement in encouraging various energies adoptions for instance through a tax system. For example, governments should enforce a tax on fuel such as coal to minimize usage and as such impact on the reduction of air pollution. The public must also be sensitized regarding the effectiveness of environmental degradation to attract their goodwill, therefore, enforce various legal provisions with absolute smoothness. It is through such mechanisms that air pollution can be minimized and importantly achieve reduction of ailments associated with the adverse implications.
Conclusion.
It is outward from the paper that the world’s population and the general ecosystem is under an immense threat of air pollution. Establishment of the best-fit practices could, therefore, prove momentous in minimizing and mitigating the identified dangers of air pollution. Stringent control mechanism through various environmental bodies and government plus public involvements is indispensable in air pollution reduction. Indeed, it is through such a collaborative engagement that we can make this world a better place to live; free from air pollutants that are detrimental to our health.