Opinion Essay

Responsible of Pollution 

In this essay I will be discussing the issue of who has more responsibility for pollution; The business or the government? This topic is relevant for people who have interest in the contamination of the world in this moment, I'm with people who said that the business and factories are more responsible that the government in world contamination. 

As you know, the pollution of the earth is very important these days, some people's  think about the really responsible of contamination, if you think like me you really know that the factories and businesses are the real responsibles of the problem. Nowadays are many countries industrialized, like China, Japan, Brazil, India and especial in the United states, the greatest source of pollution is the Industrial community of this country. According to the 2000 toxics Release Industry of the United States Environmental Protection Agency: "Over 2.95 million metric tons of toxic chemicals from about 2.000 industrial facilities are annually released into the environment".

Personally I think that this is a very important point because if we continue raising these toxics, it is very probably that in the next years we will have more problems that now about this. Also in the past with the Industrial Revolution, pollution became a major problem with the introduction or the steam engine (And a series of goods shifting) from home and small to large industrial factories. Another reason to believe me is because according to Web site "Pollution Issues": "The contamination increased because of the use of artificially sources of power that replaced the natural power of fast-running rivers".

What is more, now there is are a considerable number of corporations starting to account for coming carbon limits in business. There is definitely a change because according to a news report by the CDP: "These companies recognize the era of unlimited pollution will end soon, and it's time to rain in their share of global warming emissions". Well, at least they will stop raising contamination emissions, but at this time, is not it a little late? The factories should have stopped this before, at least ten years ago so now we wouldn't pay the consequences, but is so late. Another thing is that according to web site The Energy Collective: "Right now companies are free to release as much carbon as they want. If you know the carbon gas makes the climate changes and contribute to the deadly storms, costly droughts and destructive floods like the ones that have swept through our communities." To my mind, we need to help our communities by limiting how much carbon pollution the companies release.

However, some people think that the government is the principal responsible, they think that managing the air quality is a partnership between the multiple government jurisdictions and stakeholders. The BC Air Quality separate in the federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments, said: " The government is the responsible for making and enforcing laws, issuing permits and codes of practice and setting standards, objectives guidelines and criteria. So, why anywhere the factories also contribute to the pollution, if the government is watching it?

In conclusion, I really think that, if we really want to "clean" the air from pollution, take care of our planet, and stop the contamination, we need to stop the emission of carbon gas or also, stop the most contamination factories. Also the government can help us, but seriously and take control of industries. So now we can be sure that the industries are changing in their pollution politics.


Web Reference:

Industry (N.D). Retrieved September 3rd, 2014 from: http://www.pollutionissues.com/Ho-Li/Industry.html#ixzz3CHTfmXf7

Biggest and Smartest Corporations Already Accounting for Carbon Pollution in Business Plans 2013.
Retrieved  September 3rd, 2014 from: http://theenergycollective.com/francesbeinecke/314056/biggest-and-smartest-corporations-already-accounting-carbon-pollution-busines

Levels of Government Involved(N.D). Retrieved September 3rd, 2014 from: http://www.bcairquality.ca/regulatory/levels-of-government.html



    

     

Sources of my opinion essay

Industry

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Photo by: wonderisland

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Throughout the world there are various types of pollution that interfere with the quality of life for all living creatures and with the natural functioning of the earth's ecological systems. Although some environmental pollution is a result of natural causes (such as methane emissions from cattle and toxic materials expelled from volcanoes), most pollution is caused by human activities.

Human Industrial Activities

In the United States, as is the case in most industrialized nations, the greatest source of pollution is the industrial community. According to the 2000 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 2.95 million metric tons (6.5 billion pounds) of toxic chemicals from about 2,000 industrial facilities are annually released into the environment, including nearly 45,360 metric tons (100 million pounds) of recognized carcinogens.

Read more: http://www.pollutionissues.com/Ho-Li/Industry.html#ixzz3CHTa6Uya

Industrial Revolution

During the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, pollution became a major problem with the introduction of the steam engine and a series of technological advances that led to the production of goods shifting from homes and small factories to large industrial factories. The invention of more productive processes to manufacture cotton textiles contributed greatly to the number of mills located in England, and later in the northeastern United States. The steam engine allowed capitalists to transfer their manufacturing plants away from naturally flowing waters (outside the city) to areas inside and around cities where more abundant labor was available. Pollution increased because of the more concentrated conditions within the industrializing cities and because of the use of artificially produced power (such as coal) that replaced the natural power of fast-running rivers.

Evidence of pollution during the early Industrial Revolution in England and the European continent is widespread. South Wales, located in southwestern England, was described by Adam Markham in A Brief History of Pollution (1994) as a "veritable witches cauldron of industrial pollution." Samples of hair from historical figures such as Isaac Newton and Napoleon Bonaparte show the presence of antimony and mercury at toxic levels not normally found in human hair.

Author: Pullution Issues 
Read more: http://www.pollutionissues.com/Ho-Li/Industry.html#ixzz3CHTfmXf7

Date: Available 3rd September 2014

Twenty-nine corporations, including five major oil companies, are starting to account for coming carbon limits in their business plans, according to a new report by CDP. These companies recognize the era of unlimited pollution will soon end, and it’s time to rein in their share of global warming emissions.

Right now, companies are free to release as much carbon as they want. This fuels climate change and contributes to the deadly storms, costly droughts, and destructive floods like the ones that have swept through our communities.

We all pay a steep price for unchecked climate change—even if our families haven’t lost a home to a storm surge yet or gone out of business after a prolonged drought. It touches us no matter where we live. The government spent nearly $100 billion to respond to extreme weather events in 2012. That’s more than $1,100 per average US taxpayer.

We can help protect our communities by limiting how much carbon pollution companies release. America has already set limits for arsenic, lead, and mercury, and other pollutants that endanger our health and well-being. Now we must do the same for carbon.

According to the new CDP report, more and more companies know that time has come, and many have already demonstrated what’s possible by reducing their own carbon pollution. Microsoft, for instance, has committed to becoming carbon neutral across all its data centers, labs, offices, and travel. Even fossil fuel giants like ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, BP, and Shell told CDP researchers they are planning for a carbon-constrained world, because the nation will soon take firm climate action.

President Obama has already begun. In June he released a robust Climate Action Plan and directed the Environmental Protection Agency to establish carbon limits for new and existing power plants. His plan will also target other potent global warming pollutants, including methane from oil and gas production and HFCs. And last year, the president raised fuel economy standards to 54.5 miles per gallon, which will cut carbon pollution from new cars in half and save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump by 2025.

The clean car standards have unleashed a wave of innovation in the auto sector, contributed to Detroit’s recovery, and helped spur the boom in car sales. The power plants standards will likewise inspire advances in clean energy technologies. They will also level the playing field and allow all sources of energy to compete for low-carbon markets.

The CDP report confirms that many of our smartest and biggest companies are already planning for the low-carbon future. We can usher that future in today by setting strong limits on carbon.  We can hold polluters accountable and leave our children with cleaner air and a more stable climate.

http://theenergycollective.com/francesbeinecke/314056/biggest-and-smartest-corporations-already-accounting-carbon-pollution-busines

Levels of Government Involved

Managing air quality is a partnership between multiple government jurisdictions and stakeholders. This is partly due to the fact that different players have different degrees and kinds of air-quality management powers and roles. Also, air pollution often stretches across more than one political boundary, and has more than one source. Addressing air pollution requires a joint effort by those affected by the pollution and those involved in causing it.

The main governments involved in air quality management are the federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments, along with international joint organizations. They are responsible for making and enforcing laws, issuing permits and codes of practice, and setting standards, objectives, guidelines and criteria. In addition, they work with other government agencies and stakeholders to in airshed management. (See Airshed Management in B.C.).

Federal Legislation

The federal government’s role in addressing air quality issues is largely defined through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). Many emission sources that lie beyond provincial authority are subject to federal regulation, standards and guidelines. These include motor vehicles and fuels, marine vessels, railways and off-road engines. The federal government also provides research support and advice to provincial and municipal agencies in the development of strategies and plans.

Provincial Legislation

In general, the provinces are responsible for controlling pollution from industry and business activities. B.C.'sEnvironmental Management Act and the Waste Discharge Regulation are the principal pieces of legislation for air quality and other environmental issues in British Columbia. Flowing from them are regulations that address specific air-quality issues. The province has the authority to develop air quality standards and guidelines, regulate point and area sources, and require the preparation of airshed management plans  For more information, see the Legislative Framework, Summary of Air Quality Legislation and Air Quality Regulations.

British Columbia is also a member of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), composed of Canada's federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers. The CCME has developed Canada-wide standards for particulate matter and ground-level ozone, which are an important step towards the long-term goal of minimizing the risk PM and ozone pose to human health and the environment.

Regional and Municipal Legislation

Regional and municipal governments can pass bylaws to control emissions such as backyard burning, wood stoves and vehicle idling. These governments can also address air pollution through land-use and transportation planning, regional growth strategies and sustainability plans. For more information, see the 2011 Inventory of Air Quality Bylaws in British Columbia.

Under the Environmental Management Act, the Metro Vancouver (the Greater Vancouver Regional District) has been delegated authority to manage air quality within its boundaries — an important responsibility in B.C., given the size of its population. It administers laws that regulate emissions from industrial, commercial and industrial sources, through permits, compliance promotion and enforcement. A key role is establishing ambient air quality criteria that may be different but no less stringent (or more stringent) than requirements established by the province.

International Actions and Agreements

International actions and agreements include the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, theKyoto Protocol and the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement. Closer to home is the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy, a multi-agency, international effort to address shared air quality management concerns.

http://www.bcairquality.ca/regulatory/levels-of-government.html