Air Pollution and Climate Change: A Global Issue - Essay Sample

Introduction

The issue of air pollution and climate change is a major environmental problem requiring significant deliberation. Although climate change and air pollution are not the same, the two are closely connected since they involve the overloading of the atmosphere with carbon and other natural habitats like the oceans. Climate change is seen as the global disparity of the universe climate as a result of human activities as well as other natural causes. However, human activities have tremendously accelerated the emission of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere causing global warming. Some of the greenhouse gases include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and Carbon dioxide (CO2), which are significant to the change of the climate (Seinfeld and Pandis). Due to climate change, this has seen the occurrence of extreme meteorological changes, rising sea levels, and other climate patterns that are delivering fatal effects to the people. On the other hand, air pollution involves the presence of dangerous substances in the atmosphere that affect people. Some of the primary air pollution gases include nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), sulfur oxides (SO2 and SO3), particulate matter (PM), tropospheric ozone gases (O3), among others (Seinfeld and Pandis). In both air pollution and climate changes, they have been caused by industrial processes emissions, use of aerosol, deforestation activities, radiation, and burning of fossil fuels (such as emission by engines).

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Why Air Pollution and Climate Change is the Most Pressing Issue

However, I believe that air pollution and climate change is the most pressing environmental concern at present because of the effects imposed. In the recent past, there has been an increased occurrence of disasters such as flooding and drought resulting from changes in climate patterns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2018, around seven million premature deaths that occur annually are a result of the effects of air pollution, with approximately four million being because of outdoor exposure (World Health Organization). In their data, WHO show that nine out of ten individuals breathe contaminated air (World Health Organization). As per the WHO climate change and air pollution guideline, it derives that the daily exposure to gasses like particulate matter PM2.5 per cubic meter of air must not exceed 25 micrograms (World Health Organization). However, many cities are surpassing this figure around the universe, and the damages are becoming evident with the increased cases of lung cancer, and other respiratory problems.

Detailed Plan to Mitigate Air Pollution and Climate Change

Nonetheless, I would mitigate this environmental issue through reforestation, changes in the industrial process, reduction of emission from agricultural activities, and replacement of fuels with renewable energy. Since forests are meant to help in the reduction of carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmospheres, I would start by pushing for the creation of specific measures promoting reforestation and afforestation activities. This would aid in regenerating the entire process of atmospheric gas balance. Next, I would advocate for changes in the industrial process, such as changing the waste disposal methods. Often industries dispose of their waste products careless without taking specific measures to avoid unnecessary pollution of the environment and air. Through proper waste disposal measures and recycling of various types of wastes, this will help in solving climate change and air pollution problems.

Also, in the agricultural processes, people are shifting to different practices that are equally resulting in environmental destruction. As people undergo in their farming practices, they need to rely on natural activities to increase yields rather than artificial events such as the use of chemicals, which is causing more harm than good. Finally, the replacement of fuels with renewable energy is a significant solution to air pollution and climate change that people and industries need to consider. Since engines and burning of fuels is a leading cause for air pollution, renewable energy resources such as the use of wind turbines, solar panels, and energy storage systems. By using renewable sources of energy, this is likely to promote efficiency and maintain affordability besides the prevention of air pollution and climate change.

Works Cited

Seinfeld, John H., and Spyros N. Pandis. Atmospheric chemistry and physics: from air pollution to climate change. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.

World Health Organization. "Air Pollution." Who. Int, 2018, https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution