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Does Your Pollution Impose on Those Who Don’t Have the Opportunity to Pollute? by Hannah Shangraw

Posted by: | May 6, 2014 Comments Off on Does Your Pollution Impose on Those Who Don’t Have the Opportunity to Pollute? by Hannah Shangraw |

If pollution policy does not change, pollution will only get worse and will increasingly contribute to global warming. First world countries are among the top carbon polluters. In 2012, the growth rates of top emitters were “5.9% (China), −3.7% (USA), −1.3% (EU28), and 7.7% (India).”[ix] According to figures from the Global Carbon Project, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel are rising and set to reach a record high of 36 billion tonnes.[x] Individuals from first world countries contribute to pollution through numerous daily activities. Harmful activities for air pollution include: wood burning in fireplaces, wood stoves, backyard burning, and agricultural burning; fossil fuel burning in motor vehicles, off-road vehicles, lawnmowers, boats, planes, trains, and barbeques; using household products including paints, solvents, cleaning agents, printing ink, hair spray, deodorant spray, “air freshener” spray, candles, and incense; and using items that release ozone-depleting substances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, foam products, and fire extinguishers.[xi] Professor Corinne Le Quéré of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Angli argued that “emissions must fall substantially and rapidly if we are to limit global climate change to below two degrees” because “additional emissions every year cause further warming and climate change.”[xii] In order to prevent climate change, individuals, corporations, and government actors need to reduce pollution that occurs on a daily basis in first world countries.

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[ix] Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center: 2013 Global Carbon Project. See http://cdiac.ornl.gov/GCP/carbonbudget/2013/.

[x] Global Carbon Project co-led by researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia. See Earth System Science Data journal online: http://www.earth-system-science-data.net/essd_news_global_carbon_budget_2013.pdf.

[xi] British Columbia has put together a more extensive list of how individuals affect the environment and what is being polluted at http://www.bcairquality.ca/101/individual-pollution.html.

[xii] Professor Corinne Le Quéré of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia led the Global Carbon Budget report: see http://www.earth-system-science-data.net/essd_news_global_carbon_budget_2013.pdf.

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under: Climate Change, General, International
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