Air Pollution: Living Green In Canada

Part A

Being elected as the Prime minister of Canada involves a great responsibility towards the country and its people. A country can only succeed if its people are healthy. So, this calls for a healthy environment as well. In this era of modernisation, in order to develop our infrastructure, we cannot ignore the negative impact it brings to our environment. Air pollution is the main environmental problem that most of countries have to face because of expanding industrialisation, transportation and burning of fossil fuels for domestic or industrial uses. So, as the Prime Minister of Canada, my motive would be to promote sustainable growth and tackle the problem of “Air pollution” and “Climate Change”.

What is Air pollution?

Air pollution is basically the contamination of air quality no matter inside or outside. Its very hazardous for the environment as with the release of harmful gasses into our atmosphere the air that all living creatures breathe in, is getting unhealthy and causing major health problems for people.

(a) Why I choose this Environmental problem?

As we know Canada’s major cities which includes, GTA-Greater Toronto Area, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Edmonton are expanding at a very fast pace because of our liberal globalisation and industrial policies. This is resulting inflow of goods and services on a very large scale and as a result the industries are expanding in these big cities to meet the increasing business needs. There are many countries that did not take initial steps to control the pollution and today their air quality is hazardous. Therefore, it is very important to control the air pollution with the increasing growth and industrialisation of a nation. There are several reasons behind the increasing air pollution which are as follows-(1) National Geographic Society. (2012, October 09).

1. Burning of Fossil Fuels-The main reason behind air pollution is “Sulphur dioxide” which is released from the consumption of non-renewable energy source like coal, oil and gases. Contaminants discharging from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, autos, trains, planes cause a tremendous measure of contamination. The utilization of vehicles is executing our condition as they are producing risky gases that are contaminating the earth seriously.
2. Pollutants in the Air- Air contamination focuses can be impacted by numerous components. These include the amount of air toxins discharged by sources, the separation from the sources, and meteorological conditions. For example, air temperature, the security of the air, wind speed and course. Some air pollutants can be conveyed by the air itself and influence the air quality in areas which are hundreds to thousands of kilometres from the sources.
3. Smoke from Industries- Manufacturing industries discharge substantial measure of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, natural mixes, and synthetic compounds into the environment. Assembling ventures are situated at each niche and corner of Canada and affected the adjacent territories. Oil and oil refineries likewise release hydrocarbons and different perilous synthetic compounds that contaminate the air and furthermore adding to arrive contamination. For example, in Alberta, there are many oil refineries that undertake these operations.

(b) According to a study done by “Environment and Climate change Canada”, there are certain facts about the problem of “Air pollution and Climate Change” which are as follows.(2) Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2017, August 09)

1. Leads to Climate Change- Air contamination is the main reason behind the environmental and climatic change. In the order to control air pollution, we can decrease environmental change. The primary wellsprings of CO 2 outflows – the extraction and consuming of non-renewable energy sources – are key drivers of environmental change, as well as significant wellsprings of air poisons. Besides, many air toxins that are unsafe to human wellbeing and biological systems likewise add to environmental change by influencing the measure of approaching daylight that is reflected or consumed by the climate, with a few contaminations warming and others cooling the Earth.
2. Health Issues- Another reason to reduce air pollution is the overall health concerns to our Canadians. The problem of air pollution and climate change results in premature deaths, respiratory and breathing problems like Asthma. This problem is even worse for new-born babies, elderly people and people living in cities. Smog formed by particulate matter and ground-level ozone leads to shortness of breath and irritations in nose and eyes.
3. Increases economic costs- Air pollution increases the economic costs of a nation as it leads to increased health expenditure of a country. When people tend to have more issues regarding health ultimately Government health sector costs increase. In the past three years Canada’s allocated budget cost for health sector has increased and will keep on increasing until we take certain measures to control hazards such as climate change and pollution. This will further lead to increased chances of budget deficit.
4. Effect to Nation’s Assets- Air pollution also leads to Acid rain in which certain hazardous chemicals gets mixed with rain and effect the buildings and monuments. This mixing of sulphuric acid does not only effect monuments but also flora and fauna of a country.

( c ) This environment challenge can be measured in two ways-

To quantify the exercises are normally isolated into two orders, for example, source checking and encompassing air observing. It very well may be finished by straightforwardly utilizing certain estimating instrumentation or by physically. While Source checking includes in the estimation of emanations straightforwardly from a settled and versatile discharge source. So as to control innovation execution source information is utilized. Encompassing air observing the measure of poisons present in the air. Primary urban territories ought to work a few surrounding air checking instruments.

It very well may be estimated as it is discharged in the earth as a source in mass/volume grams/m3 or it tends to be mass/process parameter. Air contamination is likewise assessed in nature as a fixation for example micrograms/m3. Existing air observing information is utilized to analyse the air quality causing issues, survey whether built up principles are being met, and portray the potential human wellbeing hazard in a territory.

PART B

As Prime Minister of Canada I would have a responsibility for its people, environment and country itself. So, I would team up with the best people who have resources and good knowledge about environmental protection. So, that we can make Canada a better place for upcoming generations and pass them a healthy and safe environment.

(a) “Some ways to solve this environmental challenge are as follows”- (3) Environment Canada. (n.d.). Action on Climate Change and Air Pollution

• Individuals should utilize Public transportation rather than their own vehicles or prefer other efficient methods like Carpooling. Effective and efficient Public transportation plan will be updated time to time and according to the weather.
• You could walk or ride your bike for little distances.
• Keep your vehicles pollution-free by regular checking of the motor/engine emissions. High fines will be given if it’s a found that someone’s vehicle is not tested for emissions.
• In our homes we should utilize electrical ventilation that radiates lesser contaminations by this inside pollution can be decreased to minimal. A regular check for this will be conducted by the officials.
• New innovation for electrical and hybrid cars should be promoted
• According to sources from “Environment Canada” Industries are held 51% responsible for the air pollution. So being the Prime Minister I would try to outsource some of the hazardous industrialisations and promote the businessmen to set industries in the countryside rather than setting all the industries in big cities and making the environment even worse for people living in those cities.
• Setting industries in the countryside will give twin benefits. Firstly, the overcrowding of industries in the cities will decrease and secondly, employment will be generated for people living in those areas.

(a) Some scientific sources for this change are as follows- (3) Environment Canada. (n.d.). Action on Climate Change and Air Pollution.

• In big cities the air is being polluted by transportation as well as by the consumption of petroleum, oil and coal in working stations, manufacturing plants and homes and by the consumption of fuel in commercial vehicles. These industries and manufacturing units release different particulates in charge of the dark exhaust cloud in which there are very high amounts of sulphur oxides which likewise might come out because of consuming coal and oil. These oxides rust iron, harm structures of building, discolour silver, and harm the plants and trees very seriously.
• Every manufacturing process causes an air contamination in various ways. Like “Petroleum and oil refineries are in charge of broad hydrocarbon and particulate issue contamination”. “Smelter, press – steel factories, mash and paper plants, plants synthetic concoctions and bond all discharge a lot of various particulates. High-voltage electrical cables ionize the adjacent air, framing ozone and different unsafe synthetic compounds layers.” The majority of airborne toxins from different sources incorporate composts, bug sprays, radioactive and dust from manures and mining activities.

( C ) The success and short comes could be measured by-

After taking all these measures to decrease the air pollution and control climate change, I would take various studies and surveys from different people and professional bodies for example, professional people like doctors could be surveyed about decrease in patients with respiratory problems and decrease in premature deaths. After getting the results from these studies, the environmental protection plan can change and revised according to the needs desired results. These surveys will tell us how far we have come and what’s more that we have to change. More professional people will be included in the “Environment Canada campaign” to make it even more successful.

The pollution will diminish and furthermore the number of sufferers of the contamination will start to diminish. This would likewise build the status of Canada on the planet as it would be the primary nation to end up Pollution Free Country in the World. In addition, the quantity of ailments would start decreasing to minimal. Moreover, as the air contamination is the underlying driver of other numerous other environmental issues such huge numbers of other natural issues would decline. So this is a positive advance towards taking care of the issue of air pollution.

References-

1. National Geographic Society. (2012, October 09). Air pollution. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/air-pollution/
2. Environment and Climate Change Canada. (2017, August 09). Air pollution: Drivers and impacts Retrieved from http://www.ec.gc.ca/indicateursindicators/default.asp?lang=en&n=D189C09D-1
3. Environment Canada. (n.d.). Action on Climate Change and Air Pollution. Retrieved from http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/media/m_124/brochure/br_c1_eng.htm