Causes of Air Pollution and Global Warming - Essay Example

Section/# Air Pollution One of the most serious issues associated with industrialization is the issue of pollution. As ever increasing numbers of humans inhabit the earth and seek to leverage its resources, the overall level of pollution continues to rise commensurate with this increase in population. Although all forms of pollution are damaging, air pollution is an especially harmful category; due in part to the fact that it is not as localized as ground or water pollution can be (Omanga et al., 2014). As air currents swiftly move throughout the globe and affect large and small population groups, the issue of air pollution serves as a fundamental risk that is shared equally between all inhabitants on earth. As a function of understanding the issue of air pollution, the following analysis will consider the major causes of air pollution, changes that have been effected as a means of reducing it, analyze whether these have been sufficient, and consider the impact of air pollution with respect to the issue of global warming and overall levels of CO2 emission. Through such a level fo analysis it is the hope of this author that the reader can gain a more full and complete understanding of this extremely important reality and seek to engage changes that can limit the amount of damage that is being done to the earth and its inhabitants. As was discussed briefly within the introduction, the major cause of air pollution relates to human activity; namely the process of industry and industrialization. As third world countries develop and seek to engage with the global marketplace, the need to produce goods and sell these to consumers throughout the world drives them to find the cheapest and most effective means of product creation. Not surprisingly, these means are invariably dirty and cause irreparable harm to the atmosphere and the overall quality of the air. This air pollution is not only damaging to the quality of air but it has a direct and measurable impact with respect to the health of individuals who live in both direct and indirect proximity to the pollutants. For instance, in heavily industrialized cities around the globe, rates of lung cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory issues are an order of magnitude higher than more rural areas or those that are not heavily industrialized. Yet, the issue is not concentric on respiratory issues alone. Scholars and scientists have recently noted that there is a directly higher level of birth defects and incidents of premature babies being born to mothers that are exposed to high levels of air pollution in such cities as Shanghai, Mexico City, and/or Mumbai. Efforts have been made by the more developed nations of the world to effect a change with regard to the overall level of pollutants that they release into the world. However, due to the nature of industrialization and the means by which money is earned by poorer countries, many nations have not agreed to abide by these standards; knowing that the moment they do the earning power of their citizens will be massively reduced. This creates a difficult problem for international organizations and developed nations that seek to reduce the rate of air pollution. Accordingly, further legislation will only be effective at such a time as these nations that are the most egregious in air pollution take definitive steps towards correcting this process and seeking the best interests of their own domestic workforce as well as the own best interests of the entire world population. the major causes of air pollution, changes that have been effected as a means of reducing it, analyze whether these have been sufficient, With regard to the issue of global climate change, one cannot simply state as to whether the economic costs that have been incurred as a means to slow its progression are worth it (Faber et al., 2013). This is partly due to the fact that the full extent of the means by which global climate change affects and will affect the citizens of earth is still not fully known and/or understood. As a relatively new discovery within the field of science, there is still a great level of understanding that will be beneficial to policy makers and scientists with regards of what the best way to integrate precautions and fixes to the issue (Shirinde et al., 2014). However, what can be inferred is the fact that if humans do not take the necessary steps to correct the problem now, inclusive of costly economic sacrifices, the possibility that global climate change will ultimately redefine the way in which the current world operates is a very real eventuality. As such, there are many within the economic and environmental community that state that due to the high economic costs of intervention, such a policy would be disastrous to the global economies (Clarke, 2010). However, if there is no system upon which to build or develop an economy due to the complete destruction of the environment as a result of human impacts upon climate change, the economic costs of interference will most certainly not be considered so high within the current reality (Uzoigwe et al., 2013). From the information that has thus far been presented, it is clear and apparent that global air pollution is a relevant issue that demands the attention of decision makers; both in the developed world and within the under-developed world. As the developed world has the financial resources to address the issue, they should not engage the under-developed world with a degree of arrogance in demanding that they solve the situation on their own (Levinsson et al., 2014). Instead, incentives, grants, and cooperative agreements can be a useful means by which the situation is improved and the overall health of the entire planet is moved towards a better future. Sadly, the potential for this to happen is rather low; due in part to the fact that the desire for profits and development impedes the process of seeking out the environmental interests of all stakeholders involved. However, with correct legislation and effective engagement, it is the belief of this particular author that lasting change can be effected and the situation regarding air pollution can at least partially be reversed. Bibliography Clarke, H 2010, ‘Strategic issues in global climate change policy’. Australian Journal Of Agricultural & Resource Economics, 54(2), 165-184. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8489.2010.00485.x Faber, J, Brodzik, K, Gołda-Kopek, A, & Łomankiewicz, D 2013, Air Pollution and Vehicles’, Polish Journal Of Environmental Studies, 22, 6, pp. 1701-1709, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 July 2014. Levinsson, A, Olin, A, Modig, L, Dahgam, S, Björck, L, Rosengren, A, & Nyberg, F 2014, Interaction Effects of Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure ‘, Plos ONE, 9, 6, pp. 1-8, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 July 2014. Omanga, E, Ulmer, L, Berhane, Z, & Gatari, M 2014, Industrial air pollution in rural areas: community awareness, risk perception and associations between risk variables, BMC Public Health, 14, 1, pp. 1-27, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 July 2014. Shirinde, J, Wichmann, J, & Voyi, K 2014, Association between health factors and air pollution sources ‘, Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, 13, 1, pp. 1-24, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 July 2014. UZOIGWE, J, PRUM, T, BRESNAHAN, E, & GARELNABI, M 2013, The Emerging Role of Outdoor Air Pollution’, North American Journal Of Medical Sciences, 5, 8, pp. 445-453, Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 July 2014. Read More