The environmental impacts of Los Angeles - Essay Example

The environmental impacts of Los Angeles "Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, employing an estimated 220 million workers and generating 9.4 percent of global sales revenues, tourism can be pro-poor, pro-development and pro-environment or quite the opposite depending upon particular practices. Some tourist bike or hike to their destination and follow the maxim, take only memories and leave only footprints. Others drive mobile home, take home bulging suitcases and leave trails of waste, as with other forms of globalization and trade, tourism carries the risk of homogenization and exploitation." (Anderson, 220) Los Angeles is one of the most densely polluted countries of the world. Pollution has literally damaged the entire city in such a way that its impact is very obvious. Tourism is an essential part of Los Angeles economy. Los Angeles is one of those countries that are a major tourist attraction; Los Angeles has the honor of housing the home of all legendary actors that is Hollywood. From amazing shopping malls to Hollywood and an amazing blend of various restaurants, Los Angeles offers everything that a tourist wants during vacations. While travelling the quality and the atmosphere of the environment go hand in hand. The environment is made up of natural as well as manmade things which together build up the tourism in a state. The relation between tourism and environment tends to get very tangling at times. The effects of tourism are very controversial. At times they can be helpful in generating revenue for the state resulting in a fruitful economy and on the contrary it can damage and dent the citys environmental condition resulting in a disaster which can damage countries natural resources. Tourism leads to the development of the place with the construction of roads, parks, malls, resorts, restaurants, hotel, golf courses, and airports etc. which eventually build up the infrastructure of a place. "The notion of a tourism system is extremely important when we start to consider the notion of impacts. If we are to evaluate the effects of tourism trips, we need not only to examine where in the system immediate impacts occur, but also to consider if there are system-wide effects that contribute to change in the broader environment. In the case of maritime ship emissions, for example, nitrogen oxide (NOx) has both local and global effects on atmospheric pollution. In the Los Angeles – Long Beach area of California, which is the United States busiest port and the countrys most polluted area, oceangoing vessels are among the largest source of NOx, emitting more NOx than all power plants and refineries in the regions air basin combined. This is significant because as well as being a green house gas (GHG) that contributes to global warming and climate change. NOx reacts with other volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere to produce ozone/smog. Particulates from marine vessels also create significant cancer risks, with an estimated more than 700 premature deaths caused in the Los Angeles area annually by these emissions as of 2008. Because of their often localized nature, the effects of NOx are not just felt in ports, but also along shipping transit routes. For example, Santa Barbara County in California, which has no commercial port, estimates by 2020, 67 percent of its NOx inventory will come from shipping traffic transiting the Californian coast." (Scott, 45) This particularly deals with the marine emission that has damaged Los Angeles brutally. This text explains the damages and the adverse effects of pollution. Tourism in Los Angeles is very expensive. Being a densely populated city traffic is one of the major problems that denting the environment. Los Angeles has already been labeled as one of United State of Americas most polluted place therefore the constantly increasing traffic adds more to the damage already caused. Tourism in such a region adds more burdens on the traffic hence every day the air in Los Angeles keeps on worsening. Los Angeles is merely dependent on cars therefore most of the transport related activities use this mean of transportation which causes pollution. Apart from that the smog that is given out by manufactures etc. is also causing immense damage as the geography of Los Angeles is such that it tends to limit the pollution within the city without letting it dissipate that causes further pollution. This problem has not merely aroused because of tourism but it certainly acts as a catalyst in increasing pollution. Another thing that is damaging the environment in Los Angeles is the water pollution that prevails in this region. Los Angeles is the ninth largest city in United States when it comes to area therefore catering to the needs of every citizen gets really tough so when tourism increases in Los Angeles it affects the water supply resulting in shortage of water. Even managing the waste and sewage gets very tough as a lot of pressure is put on the system. Water shortage is even due to the excessive water consumption in which the supply is far less than the demand which keeps on increasing because of the overpopulation in this region. Water and air population are somewhat linked to each other and therefore are equally damaging the environment. If tourism keeps on increasing it is estimated that the water supply will not be able to cater everyone. Los Angeles is a major tourist attraction because of Hollywood. Since many tourist come to visit Hollywood there are great sites there which are natural as well as manmade? Hollywood hills are usually visited by tourism which is again something that generates tourism in Los Angeles. Madame Taussads in Los Angeles is one museum that tempts all tourists to pay a visit and embrace the wax statues of their favorite celebrities. Universal studios, another magical thing in the vicinity of Hollywood that is eye catching for allis also the reason why many tourists choose Los Angeles for their vacations. Shopping arcades, theme parks, resorts are also an integral component of this citys amazing sights. Beaches are also an integral part of Los Angeles and are committed to provide the visitors and beach lovers and opportunity to bathe in the sun, embrace the tan, enjoy the scorching sun and enthrall themselves by the water sports. The environment in the beach is such that those who go in the morning considering it to be fairly hot in their swim suits and shorts might be shivering eventually as the nights tend to get very cold. In order to overcome the pollution that is linked with the city certain initiates have been taken like ecofriendly restaurants that reduce the pressure on the environment. Food supplies are another major area of concern for the entire tourist as well as the citizens as the continuous damage is being caused to the city as tress are being cut and other natural resources are being dented so that food and other necessities such as accommodation can be fulfilled. Another way to improve this condition is to provide the consumers with organic products that are better and ecofriendly. Earthquakes are also a threat that Los Angeles has encountered in recent times which is obviously an obstacle that hurdles when it comes to tourism. Tourists find it unsafe at times and due to this the tourism gets badly affected. Although if certain measures like earthquake warning etc. are taken this issue can be easily countered as the tourist can always check for the forecasts and then plan his journey so that the issue of personal security is countered. Hence efforts need to be taken in order to minimize the adverse effects of the damage caused by natural resources, or else preventive measures need to be taken to avoid any such circumstances that can cause lifelong effects also rupturing the tourism within the vicinity. (Crowther, 15) Lastly, it needs to be mentioned that Los Angeles is blessed with countless beautiful countrysides, if proper attention is given to these areas then the tourism would flourish more would flourish more as environmentally these sights are just breathtaking. (Tierney, 274) In a nutshell, Los Angeles is blessed with such attractions be it natural or manmade if little care is given and efforts are put in to overcome the pollution problem which is apparently the biggest issue there then it is expected that tourism will flourish drastically in this region. WORKS CITED Anderson, David A.. Environmental economics and natural resource management. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2010. Print. "Education for Sustainability: Tourism and the Conservation of Natural Resources." Crowther, D. and Mitewa, H. (2006) Education for Sustainability: Tourism and the Conservation of Natural Resources. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 15 (5c), Pp. 13-16. (n.d.). Print. Scott, Daniel, and C. Michael Michael Hall. Tourism and Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation.. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2012. Print. Tierney, Patrick T, Rene Dahl, and Deborah Chavez."Cultural Diversity in Use of Undeveloped Natural Areas by Los Angeles County Residents." Tourism Management. 22.3 (2001): 271-277. Print. Read More