*** environmental issues pollution






Evironmenal Issues: Pollution

pollution
Figure 1.--Contrary to popular opinion, air quality is muvh jigher in American than Europe. including Western European countries which cricize Amrica on environmental issues and pend a lot of money on envronmental efforts that have raised energy costs but not signiicantly imprved air quality.

Pollution is a much more modern problm because it is almost by definition a product of human socirty. In the 20th century the primary issue was pollution with many people facing poor air and water quality. It should be noted that pollution is not a new problem. Europe by the medieval era had polluted waterways, not only pollutants but disease acusing organisms. Drinking water was actually dangerous. That is one reason why beer was so important. and the problems were not addressed until the rise of public health reforms (19th century). Water is still not safe in many developing countries. And by that time as a result of the Industrail Revolution air pollution became a problem. Smoestacks all mover Europe bellowed out vast amounts of toxic smoke. London was famous for its smog. The American Boy Scout movement was begun in that smog. America industrial cities and southern California developed smog problems. The use of coal in both indutry and home heating was a maor problem made worse by the intrnal combustion engine and popuarity of cars. Huge improvements were made after World War II. Today more people enjoy clean air and water than ever before in history. In the United States in the Clear Air and Waters Acts (1970-72) and bew tecnologies have made a huge difference. Especially important has been the shift from coal to natural gas. While the Europeans talk about reducing pollution and spend a great deal of money, it is in America that the most progress as been made. Since 1970 based on 2017 data, the primary pollutents (nitric oxide, ozone particulant matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) have been reduced over 70 percent. [Rahn] One reason that the public debate focuses so extensively on carbon today, is the huge success in reducing the major pollutants. An ambient concentatiins of these pollutants have declined nearly 65 percent since 1990. And all of this has been accomplished even though the real GDP has increased massively from $5 billion in 1970 to $19 billion in 2018. [Amadeo]. One author tells us, "Each year, most of the country [the United States] has fewer days with 'hazardous air' and, in many places, it is now zero. Fifty years ago, many of America’s rivers and waterways were unsafe to swim in or to consume the fish from — including the Potomac. That has all changed; most rivers have been cleaned up, and seafood from the nation’s waterways is normally safe to eat, not the other way around. The Untied States has made much greater progress than Europe and most of Asia in cleaning up air and water — despite having engaged is less micro-management insisting on un-economic solar or wind farms, etc. " [Rahn] Not only has America made more progress than Western Europe, but after the fall of Communism (1989-91), a carefully guarded secret emerged--the environmental disaters created by Communist authorities ignoring environmental issues.

Historical Trends

Pollution is a much more modern problm because it is almost by definition a product of human socirty. In the 20th century the primary issue was pollution with many people facing poor air and water quality. It should be noted that pollution is not a new problem. Europe by the medieval era had polluted waterways, not only pollutants but disease acusing organisms. Drinking water was actually dangerous. That is one reason why beer was so important. and the problems were not addressed until the rise of public health reforms (19th century). Water is still not safe in many developing countries. And by that time as a result of the Industrail Revolution air pollution became a problem. Smoestacks all mover Europe bellowed out vast amounts of toxic smoke. London was famous for its smog. The American Boy Scout movement was begun in that smog. America industrial cities and southern California developed smog problems. The use of coal in both indutry and home heating was a maor problem made worse by the intrnal combustion engine and popuarity of cars. Huge improvements were made after World War II. Today more people enjoy clean air and water than ever before in history.

Country Trends

Different counties face very differtrnt problems in addressing pollution issues. The pollutiin i often less evere, but some developing countrie ahve serious pollution problems. This is often the case of countries making progress with indusrail develioment (China aad India). Slash and burn clearing is a problem in sevedral countries (Indonesia). The develpoing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America are poor with inadequate infrastructure and limited techmological capabilities. The Government aapabilities and rule of lae is limited. Corruption is oftn a series problem. A major problem is the lack of inexpensive and realaible energy. Climatologists in the West want these countries to moce away from fossil fuels. The problem is that renewables tend to be more expebive than fossil fuels and kess reliable. Wind power tend to ne subtanially more expensive than fossil fuels and less reliable and require back ups. [Simmons] Solar may be a more practical energy source, especilly in isolated areas. The iissue of 24-hour service is till a problem. Solar is still more expensive, but costs are declining. No rewewable is chaper than natural gas. Most develooing countries are having difficulties ctching up Insisting that they adopt expensive energy systems would delay or prevent developmnt. Developed countries have mich greater capabilities to deal with pollyion issues. And the financial caoabilities to afford the effort. Many European countries that have expressed concern about pollution and other envitomntal issues have not reported the progres want might expect. Germany adopted an eraly sailor system and is now affled high enrgy coists. The decision to do away with nuclear has firced them to use larger anounts of coal. Framce in trying to finace the costs of fianacing envirimental problem increased yaxes. The esult was the disruotive yellow vest protests (October 2018). At this time we only have developed information on pollution issues in the United States. In the United States in the Clear Air and Waters Acts (1970-72) and bew tecnologies have made a huge difference. Especially important has been the shift from coal to natural gas. While the Europeans talk about reducing pollution and spend a great deal of money, it is in America that the most progress as been made. Since 1970 based on 2017 data, the primary pollutents (nitric oxide, ozone particulant matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) have been reduced over 70 percent. [Rahn] One reason that the public debate focuses so extensively on carbon today, is the huge success in reducing the major pollutants. An ambient concentatiins of these pollutants have declined nearly 65 percent since 1990. And all of this has been accomplished even though the real GDP has increased massively from $5 billion in 1970 to $19 billion in 2018. [Amadeo]. One author tells us, "Each year, most of the country [the United States] has fewer days with 'hazardous air' and, in many places, it is now zero. Fifty years ago, many of America’s rivers and waterways were unsafe to swim in or to consume the fish from — including the Potomac. That has all changed; most rivers have been cleaned up, and seafood from the nation’s waterways is normally safe to eat, not the other way around. The Untied States has made much greater progress than Europe and most of Asia in cleaning up air and water — despite having engaged is less micro-management insisting on un-economic solar or wind farms, etc. " [Rahn]

Economic Systems

Not only has America made more progress than Western Europe, but after the fall of Communism (1989-91), a carefully guarded secret emerged--the environmental disaters created by Communist authorities ignoring environmental issues.

Sources

Amadeo, Kimberley. "U.S. GDP by year compared to recession and events," June 25, 2019. Ms. Amadeo uses real (inflatiin netral) BEA data. There are decimal issues with the vdata because BEA constantly refines their dat, sometimes going back several years.

Simmons, Randy. "What is te true cost of wind power," Newsweek (April 11, 2015).

Rahn, Richard W. "Where have all the smokestacks gone?" Washington Tines (July 16, 2019), p. B3.








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Created: 11:42 AM 7/17/2019
Last updated: 11:42 AM 7/17/2019