|
_Negative Externality: Pollution _
By: Ken Sheehy
Negative Externality: Pollution Pollution has become a heated issue in recent
years. The destruction of the environment along with serious health problems
are the eventual effects. The extensive use and availability of automobiles,
tremendous amounts of production in the booming economy and the constant
increase in demand for energy, can be held responsible. Pollution and its
effects can definitely be categorized as negative externalities. Although
millions are inevitably responsible, nobody in their right mind enjoys being
subjected to these conditions. Long-term affects of air pollution include
chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to
the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution
affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical
conditions in the elderly. Currently there is much being done to limit the
amount of pollution being released in the environment. There are federal
regulations as well as state regulations on the amount of discharge that can
be released. In such events as the Montreal Protocol, about 180 countries have
come together in an attempt to eliminate the release of all
chlorofluorocarbons, (CFCs), in the near future. CFCs are responsible for
the depletion of the ozone layer. Finally, the EPA has the ability to levy
taxes of 50,000 on companies for each ton of glop created. There are many pros
and some cons to the current policies being conducted. The overall increase in
protection against such harmful pollutants is extremely obvious. By limiting
the amount of pollution will diminish the risk of health problems caused by
these toxins. Now many industries have gotten involved with a technique called
carbon trading in which those with high pollution releases buy the rights to
pollute from others with low amounts of releases. This is a controversial
approach to reduce pollution because it allows unnecessary amounts of
pollution to be released. If companies chose to sell their rights, what they
sell would not have been used in the first place; now they will be used by
companies who can afford to purchase them. It is extremely expensive to
purchase these rights, however some major companies can do so. In my opinion,
all pollution standards should be tightened but over a period of time. I agree
totally that pollution is out of hand at the current time, however it is a
problem that has built up for many years and cant be solved all at once. I
feel that it is somewhat unfair to those companies who depend on their current
status. By implementing procedures and regulations that are to occur over a
period of time, it allows many companies to adjust gradually. I also feel that
this policy of carbon trading should be eliminated. Although it does generate
income for industries that currently comply, it allows many others to evade
responsibility. I also feel that such things as public transportation and
carpooling should be stressed. It provides an alternative that will
drastically cut down on the current emissions problems. Finally, it is easy to
blame the large corporations for the current pollution problems, however, we
must remember that some of it starts with us. We are the ones who take the use
of cars for granted and use excessive amounts of energy. We too can make a
difference!
_Bibliography _
n/a
Word Count: 545
|
