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In our modern day and age, our cities—our urban
ecosystems are being shrouded in smog. Cities with vast populations tend to
have it the worst, as air pollution often becomes too noticeable to be ignored,
resulting in “smog days.” Beijing is a good example. Walking down the streets
of Beijing, it has become impossible not to notice the smog in the air.
Similarly, many of California’s large urban centers suffer from smog and
various sorts of air pollution. The smog poses an ever-present health risk,
resulting in various respiratory problems such as reduced lung function and asthma. Moreover,
smog contributes to many more problems, including cancer and heart disease. It’s
no wonder the
In the 1970s, Los Angeles, CA, experienced air
pollution to an extraordinary degree, where residents of the city were recommended
to stay indoors during a smog day. The smog problem has remained over the
years, however.
So what can be done about this pollution?
The Clean Air Act, a
bill introduced in 1970, allowed the government to set standards on air
pollution. It set many guidelines, yet they were poorly enforced. Unfortunately,
polluting companies would often “challenge the validity of the Clean Air Act,
attempting to find loopholes or undo laws,” basically serving the interests of
the lobbyists and profiteers. Today, it is in the people’s best interests to
continue improving and enforcing the Clean Air Act. Large urban centers house
hundreds of thousands of people who will benefit greatly from better air
quality. The reasons behind the companies’ opposition of the Clean Air Act are
simple: cities are largely populated by marginalized groups. Seemingly,
polluting companies have no concern for the health of these people.
One of my favorite quotes when considering failed attempts of the government is "not to get rid of the governments presence in those areas but rather to try a new and better strategy" something Obama is certainly doing effectively thus far.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama has already doubled fuel efficiency standards helping those major cities and helping save drivers an average of 3,000 dollars. There have also been 22 major renewable energy projects put in place in the last three years. Bringing enough clean energy to produce power for up to 1.5 million homes.
These movements towards American created, clean energy without the dependence on other countries to find them will surely not only help these environmental concerns but also encourage more economic growth for America.