This weeks reading from the CQ Reader highlighted an important concept of the complexity and connectivity that social, political, and economic factors have with public health and the environment. Air pollution and climate change are two of the most highly discussed environmental issues faced today and in order to resolve this problem, all factors must be considered.

Climate change and air pollution has proven to be environmental and health risk; premature death, asthma, and heart attacks are tied to the rise of CO2 emissions and ozone layer depletion.  President Obama’s efforts to improve air quality and the environment through the Clean Power Plan was faced with both support and opposition.  On the one hand, this policy aims at decreasing CO2 emissions by 32% in 2030, which would help improve public health. However, many politicians, industries and private sectors oppose it for economic interests saying the proposed energy solutions are too costly and would raise prices and possibly cause people to lose jobs.

There is a clash between what is environmentally beneficial versus what is economically beneficial; to what extent do we sacrifice one for the other? And what price do we put on our health? This piece from Urban Issues made me more aware of the complexity of the situation in regards to air pollution and climate change, but also on a broader spectrum for all types of policies; not only does the issue at hand need to be considered, but all the branching factors and individuals effected as well.