Air Pollution

Many studies and researches have showed that the greenhouse effect has incredibly increased. It’s also known as Global Warming effect. Air pollution is one of the main reasons of this phenomenon. I’ll discuss how air pollution can lead to the greenhouse effect and then I will mention some solutions followed by my opinion.

Factories, industries, gas plants, cars and many other major factors can lead to air pollution, but how does air pollution lead to global warming? The increase of the world population has forced governments to use all the possible energy sources to provide the life needs. However, these sources are too harmful to the nature as they pollute the air and devastate green yards. The huge amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps the earth warming. Moreover, it breaks the O-zone layer which protects the earth from many harmful radiations coming from the sun (Lerner).

Smog is caused by the released gasses from the factories and gas plants and it is one of the major factors of air pollution. These gasses are damaging the ozone layer in the atmosphere. This chemical reaction allows the harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the earth surface. The more exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, the more chances of genetic damages with various cancers especially skin cancer (Lerner). Moreover, these radiations increase the temperature of the air and the earth.

Smog was not caused by the gas operation industries only; it’s also caused by the gasses emitted by the vehicles as well. Most of the people are using their private transportation methods. The world’s population has increased and the number of transportation machines has increased as well. This can lead to a greater chance of having air pollution from many directions. First, from the start of building these machines in the factory until the day it’s on the road. Some investigations was carried in 1950 has pointed that motor vehicles is the primary source of Los Angeles air pollution (Discovering US History). The high demand of fossil oil is increasing keeping the oil industries to burn more of the unwanted gasses. However these gasses are generating a chemical reaction in the air and building smog around the earth.

Many solutions are pointed from the experts and the scientists around the word. A possible solution to reduce these gasses is to change the sources of energy in to renewable sources. Using new technologies to recycle the unwanted gasses also can count as an effective solution as well. Banning the leaded gasoline in United States has resulted a 98% of decrease of toxic lead in the atmospheric concentration (Lerner). Encouraging people to use public transportation will reduce the number of motor vehicles on the roads. The biodiesel is one of the fuels that can be used as a substitute for petroleum fuel (Wagner). Hybrid cars are a result of a better use of technology for a sustainable future (Wagner). Another solution is by educating people about the danger of global warming. That can help the health and environmental organizations to fight for a better healthy life.

In conclusion, a main cause of global warming effect is the air pollution which is breaking down the Ozone layer. In order to reduce the carbon emissions in the air, renewable energy sources and new technologies could be used. In my point of view, governments must put new laws to control the carbon emissions in the atmosphere. We should consider building cool cities and limiting the number of vehicles as well. Also encourage people to use the public transportation especially in the crowded cities. Putting all the efforts together is highly needed from every one to eliminate air pollution.

Bibliography:

Hoyle, Brian. "Air pollution." Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale Group, 2008. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. Higher Colleges of Technology. 28 May. 2009 .

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act, October 20, 1965." DISCovering U.S. History. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. Higher Colleges of Technology. 28 May. 2009 .

Wagner, Cynthia G. "Actions for building better futures.(ABOUT THIS ISSUE)(Brief article)." The Futurist 41.4 (July-August 2007): 3(1). Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. Higher Colleges of Technology. 28 May 2009 .

Cool Cities

Abu Dhabi has one of the world’s biggest carbon footprints. Masdar city in Abu Dhabi could be a solution to that problem but it is not enough. Cool cities are designed to be zero-carbon, zero-waste and car free cities. In order to reduce the carbon dioxide, cool cities like Masdar city are powered by renewable energy sources. However, these types of projects are not practical for many reasons. The most two logical reasons are the cost and the capacity of these cities.

The first reason is the huge cost of the project. Masdar city costs about $22 billion to build (BBC News). Abu Dhabi’s government can offer that but for other poor countries it is impossible. This huge amount of money can be used to develop many other existing cities, factories and landscapes that can help to reduce the carbon dioxide. Also it can be used to develop new technologies to replace the old factories which contaminate the environment.

The second logical reason is the capacity of the cool cities. These cities can provide all the needed facilities and the most luxury lifestyle to their inhabitants. However, this life can only be provided for a limited number of people. Only 47,500 people can live in Masdar city (CNET News). This is not practical as many other people will stay in their existing cities. By the time, the number of people in any cool city will increase. And also the consumption of energy will keep increasing too.

It is a good thing to build a cool city like Masdar city. But the cost is too high and also the capacity of these cities is not enough. Therefore, solving the pollution problem is not by building cool cities. Finding the core of the problem is the first step to have a good living planet.

Bibliography:
"BBC NEWS Science/Nature Work starts on Gulf 'green city'" BBC NEWS News Front Page. 09 May 2009 .
"Masdar City in Abu Dhabi to lay claim to greenest city Green Tech - CNET News." Technology News - CNET News. 09 May 2009 .