Smog in Lahore, Pakistan For Pakistani residents, the air quality has recently been rivaling that of New Dehli. November is one of the worst times for air quality in Pakistan due to the increased burning of crops, emissions and cold weather. The government has announced a new antismog policy, detailing safe levels of particulate matter, however, these levels are continually exceeded with current practices. Prior to this period of increased emissions, air quality had not been monitored, leading to a lack of data which has hindered the awareness of the issue. Whereas China has intensely monitored air quality since the Beijing smog crisis, Pakistan has not yet had the initiative to do so. Within this past period of emissions alone, numerous road accidents have occurred, linked to the poor visibility. Due to this increased occurrence of problems related to air quality, bans on the burning of crops and solid waste have been implemented, as well as cutting back on power generation. The ...
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The Smog Crisis in New Delhi New Delhi is currently under a state of emergency air quality concerns. The smog in the city has worsened in recent weeks, reaching over 10 times the pollution level of Beijing. The World Health Organization has even found some areas to have pollution over 40 times the safe level. This increase in smog is due in part to the illegal burning of crop remnants by farmers in neighboring areas, as well as increased construction. Without a strong public transportation infrastructure, New Delhi residents are also reliant on personal vehicles, increasing emissions released in the city. The smog is so bad in some areas that schools have been closed and planes have been grounded. The government has not yet been able to propose a viable solution to mitigate the problem, so the wealthy buy air purifiers, leaving the less-affluent population without options. Although air quality is not a tangible natural resource, it still greatly impacts well-being. In this cas...
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Plastic Bags in Rwanda In Rwanda, plastic bags are treated as a type of contraband, where people carrying them can be fined and executives of companies imprisoned for producing them. Store owners are often publically shamed, having their stores closed until fines are paid and plastic wrapped goods are removed from their shelves. This harsh regulation stems from the negative environmental impacts of plastic bags on the landscape. The persistence of plastic bags on the landscape causes flooding and runoff, both of which impact agriculture. If these plastic bags are left on the land, oftentimes cattle will consume them, further impacting the farmers. Since plastics are not biodegradable, they accumulate on the land, increasing the environmental damage. In order to prevent plastics from inundating the environment, the government imposed strict bans and reinforcements through business owners. Stores are required to remove any packaging before the consumer leaves if the plastics have no...
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Saudi Arabia’s Volatile Oil Economy Saudi Arabia’s government is looking to diversify its economy in a shift away from oil. Not only is the government looking to shift from oil due to the recent drop in prices, but they are also working to improve their sustainable development and increase the use of renewables. Because of the volatility of oil prices, Saudi Arabia is attempting to divert from its prior economic model and modernize its processes to align with global development. This process of increasing transparency could greatly impact the royal family and the control they have over the economy. Anyone with a stake in the oil sector, including middle class workers, could be impacted by this divestment. Prince Mohammed has spoken on the shift away from oil and has encouraged the introduction of new industries to diversify the work sector. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia is looking to create a city reliant on renewable energy with a thriving economy that could act as a model for global ...
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China’s Electric Car Goals China’s recent focus on green technologies and renewables, specifically electric cars, has encouraged other countries around the world to increase their focus on electric vehicles in order to compete with China’s expanding market. The proposed policies would allow China to become the center for the global auto industry, completely restructuring this market. Although China is looking to expand the use of electric vehicles to increase their global presence and economy, this will also help their air pollution, as well as their reliance on other countries for oil extraction. Because of China’s pressure for global electric development, many countries have begun to move their research and development to China. This has encouraged technologies to be shared amongst countries. Currently, Chinese cars are produced for practicality, not luxury, which has prevented them from becoming globally popular. Their current battery technology supports short travel distances ...
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Mongolia’s Slums: Pollution and Environmental Change In Mongolia, affordable housing is hard to come by, forcing many people to live in marginal areas, such as atop landfills with little access to clean water or food. Many people in Mongolia rely on farming for their incomes, however climate change has brought on devastating droughts and cold winters. The changing climate has destroyed fields and livestock, ruining many farmers’ chances for economic success. This has only amplified the gap between the wealthy and the poor, stressing the affordable housing capacity, and increasing the amount of pollution with decreasing access to electricity and sanitation systems. Both herders and farmers alike are unable to survive the changing climate, social stratification, and poor living conditions. This article shows the struggle farmers and herders are facing in societies affected by climate change. Natural resources are important for establishing incomes and maintaining subsistence str...
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Gaza's Polluted Sea The ecosystem services that come from the ocean are valuable to the people of Gaza. Because of the political crisis, the Palestinian President asked Israel to cut the power supply to Gaza in order to prevent further feuding. However, this inadvertently lead to raw and partially treated sewage being leaked into the sea since the beginning of the summer. Not only has the pollution lead to beaches being closed due to safety concerns, but fisherman already struggling to make a living are facing even greater hardships now. Seafood like crabs cannot be harvested because of the pollution. Consumers refuse to buy any seafood, even fished from outside of the polluted area, for fear of contamination. With seafood being the main export of Gaza, it is very difficult for many people to make a livelihood, especially during the political instability. The goal is to use solar power in the future in the case of power cuts which would allow for waste treatment to continue, how...