Response Paper: Air Pollution & Climate Change

Air Pollution poses our greatest environmental health risk. In America, 55,000 people die as a result each year. It causes strokes, heart attacks, as well as many diseases and cancers. On a global level, it causes climate change; meaning more frequent natural disasters, the loss of species, and flooding from the rising sea levels. And yet, the issues of climate change and air pollution are not taken seriously very often. New York is one of the most polluted cities in the country and yet I hardly think about the quality of the air I am breathing. This issue is so overlooked, even though, if we continue emitting more and more greenhouse gasses each year, air pollution deaths will double in 35 years.

President Obama decided to take climate change seriously by tackling the electricity-generating power plants that account for 37% of the United States carbon emissions. He intended to lower the number of premature deaths in the US and to work toward a better future for the earth. His “Clean Power Plan” was not widely accepted by the public or in Washington. Many feared that the plan would make electricity costs higher, and cost many Americans their jobs. Those opposed felt that Obamas executive order would be too costly and was an “overreach of Government”. Much like President Trump, who has been using executive orders to pursue his agenda. Interestingly enough, then-governor Mike Pence was against Obama bypassing congress and using executive order, and yet now has been supportive of Trumps executive actions.  President Obamas plan would be expensive. It was estimated that 1.4 billion dollars would be lost each year, however, 3-6 billion would be saved because fewer people would be getting sick, or fatally ill from air pollution.

The Majority of Americans, from both parties, want to lower our carbon footprint. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, it is understandable that the toxic fumes coming from our cars, factories, and power plants are harmful to breathe in, and our harmful for our earth.