Articles Analysis Essay on Pollution in South Asia

Introduction

Pollution is a major concern for countries in South Asia which stems from the fact that the governments are increasingly overburdened by the amounts of wastes being released both domestically and industrially. As a result, the increased urbanization in South Asia possesses the grievous challenge of eliminating both solid and liquid effluence and gaseous emissions that is a threat to the health of the residents more so the children. The following two articles summaries expound more on the pollution challenge that the countries of South Asia have to deal not only in the present but also in the future as the population of the states continues to increase.

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Article Title: Southeast Asia Air Pollution Deaths Could Triple

Source: The source of the article is the CNN website https://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/12/asia/southeast-Asia-pollution-coal-report/index.htmlDate: the article was published on 13th January 2017

Author/s; the author of the article is Juliet Perry

According to the report by Juliet Perry, the quantities of coal emissions in Southeast Asia will almost triple by the year 2030 which will, in turn, heighten the statistics for deaths as a result of pollution. This postulation is bolstered by research work at Harvard and Greenpeace who hypothesize that the electricity demands for the region will increase by eighty-three percent between the years 2011 and 2035 a standing which represents double the global averages. Of note, the report claims that approximately twenty thousand people die annually in Southeast Asia as a result of complications arising from the pollution by the coal-driven plants. The grim statistics are projected to drastically increase by the year 2035 with up to 70,000 deaths being related to the pollution if all the proposed coal-powered electricity plants in the Southeast Asia region are completed.

Noteworthy, the article cites various factors as the source of the increasing energy demands in Southeast Asia. Developments regarding industrial standards increased population in the urban populace as a result of urban migration are the factors fuelling the unprecedented demand for energy resources in the Southeast regions of Asia (Perry, 2017). The aforementioned factors are not exclusive to the Asian condition, however, instead of utilizing alternative renewable energy sources, coal-driven power plants will be the primary source of energy to meet the demand.

According to Koplitz, the use and reliance on coal energy will adversely impact on the environment and the air quality in Asia and eventually the health of the public. Significantly, the various countries in the region have initiated plans to increase the number of their coal powered stations. For instance, Indonesia, coal powered stations will double in number from 147 to 323 while Myanmar's is set to increase five-fold from three to sixteen. According to the report, the developing countries of South Korea and Japan are also set to increase the number of their stations which cumulatively is a significant concern to the environmental conditions in the region.

However, some analysts claim that the impact of the actions of the Southeast Asia countries is insignificant, but the death statistics in India which relate up to 100000 deaths to coal plants suggests otherwise. The states should thus explore renewable energy sources and not wait for the pollution to be extended before resorting to alternative energy sources. According to the article, China is commended for its endeavors in sourcing renewable energy resource, a shift which has been necessitated by the high levels of air pollution witnessed in the nation. Countries in Southeast Asia are urged to shift their energy sources from coal-driven power stations to other alternative energy sources just like China and India.

The article is trustworthy as it explicates further on a peer-reviewed report which not only presents evidence for the projected increase in death related to pollution from coal emissions but also clearly integrates the input of various researchers on the field. The researchers have done an extensive study on the environmental contamination of Southeast Asia and other Asian countries like China which have been faced by the same environment-energy dilemma.

In summary, I think the matter of air pollution in Southeast Asia is an issue of great import which must be addressed by the governments to improve air quality. Subsequently, the public health will be significantly enhanced and thus a reduction in the mortality rates that are related to the coal-driven power station. Moreover, the high mortality rate is an issue that should at least elicit a prompt and proactive response from the governments to at least shift the energy sources to renewable forms even though its low cost and domestic abundance characterize coal.

Article Title: Air Pollution Reduction and Control in South Asia

Source: Sustainable Development Policy Institute

https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep00582Date: May. 1, 2012

Author/s; Mahmood A. Khwaja, Faiqa UmerNazima, ShaheenAnusha, SheraziFaisal, and Haq ShaheenAccording to the article air pollution control in the Southeast Asia member countries have both social and economic implications that must be comprehended and adequately addressed. Firstly, the article discusses the social and economic definition of the region it states that the region's population stands at more than 1.6 billion and is characterized economically as a low-income region. Moreover, the area is home to half the world's most impoverished population. The traditional economic activities are agriculture. Also, the article postulates that the manufacturing and service industries of the regions have in the recent years accounted for a significant portion of the economic situation of the region. India's economic recovery and the economic growth of countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been integral factors in the economic rebound of the region.

Furthermore, the authors expound more on the legal and regulatory framework for the region's environmental protection and air pollution control (Khwaja et al., 2012). The structures pertain to the specific countries and are meant to mitigate the social, economic and health implications presented by the increasing air pollution in Southeast Asia. The article further outlines the various hindrances to effective environmental action plans which if successfully effected will significantly improve the air pollution in the region. Financial constraints and lack of technical proficiency on matters environmental protection rate highly among the impairments. Also, the region is characterized by the lack of environmental policies with Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan being the only countries that have institutionalized such policy frameworks.

Additionally, the so-called environment policies in these countries primarily focus on the assessment of already existing systems and the suggestion of action plans meant to ensure environment protection especially regarding air pollution in the region. Importantly, the article rates the remarkable environmental policies of Pakistan highly which is forefront in the area in the enactment of National Clean Air Act. The other countries in the regions have environmental acts which are meant to ensure environmental protection in the region.

The article also outlines recommendations to be adopted by the entire region to ensure in both the national and regional levels regarding environmental protection and air quality. Furthermore, the recommendations encompass legal regional policy instruments for the reduction of air pollution and mitigation in South Asia. Moreover, the article recommends institutional development for agencies mandated with environmental protection which will also enhance technological sharing between the countries and even the rest of the world in the field of environmental protection.

The article is trustworthy as it is peer reviewed and the hypotheses are justified by qualitative and quantitative data from the region. The report addresses the social, economic and health component of the impact of environmental protection in the area. The article provides an integral recommendation of a legal solution to the institution of environmental policy frameworks in the region. In my opinion, a legal approach to environmental protection is essential in the South Asia regions.

The End of Karma by Somini Sengupta

Environmental pollution is a critical theme in the chapter "HI-FI" How to Outrun Fate. The chapter exposes the environmental degradation and air quality reduction that have been caused by increased urbanization. The ancient city Patna is a clear manifestation of the adverse effects of rapid uncontrolled urbanization which directly increases health complications for the public who are exposed to the various pollutants especially air pollution. Anupam Kumar, the protagonist of the chapter, makes a vivid description of the environmental degradation in his immediate environment (Sengupta, 2017). In his view, the earth has become crowded and dirty. He further describes the shiny black ribbon of raw sewage that is adjacent to his residence. Moreover, the air pollution in the city is at high levels which besides reeking of stinking rot is polluted with exhuming fumes from motor vehicles. Patna like any other city in South Asia is faced with increased environmental degradation and pollution, both solid effluence and gaseous emissions.

The adverse effects of rapid uncontrolled urbanization in Asia are further expounded by the fact that Anupam Kumar is forced to utilize a kerosene lamp instead of electricity which is shoddily managed in the city. In his aspirations to explore the earth and the solar system, Anupam Kumar dreamt of studying Information technology to pursue his dreams in the field of astronomy. He quits his government-run school and opts for tutorship and homeschooling. After much hard work he gets enrolled in a technological country but as a result of failing grades is forced to quit pursuing an education in astronomy and enroll in a lesser college, the Indian School of Mines. Instead of gaining technological know-how to help solve the environmental degradation he advances knowledge of mining to exasperating the condition of the earth through more mining. Notably, the mining area Dhanbad where he is set to study specializes in coal mining. Anupam Kumar will eventually add to the worsening environmental condition of India.

Eventually, Anupam Kumar lands a securities job which is a government job and quits the mining industry. He moves to Mumbai and his family soon follows him to reside with him in a rented apartment in Mumbai. The social and economic situation of Mumbai is different from Patna. Mumbai is better organized and has well-coordinated social amenities systems. The buildings are much taller, and the electricity supply is much steadier, and the population is much more significant. Significantly, this is a manifestation of the fact the government has prioritized the economic development of other areas like Mumbai while other regions have been economically neglected.

The chapter is a representation of the challenge of reducing environmental degradation and pollution because of the increasing urban population. Urbanization is a major challenge especially for cities in India like Patna which were initially agricultural areas. The pollution is health concern that must be adequately addressed through policies and technological solutions that will shift energy sources from pollutant energy sources like coal to renewable energy sources. Better urban planning is also key to solving the matter of waste management in the cities and the urban areas. Anupam Kumar represents the struggle to ensure that environmental protection and conve...