You are an associate-level environmental scientist in a large urban city. The growing human population within the city increases pressure on the infrastructure and natural resources, affecting the environment. As cities expand, they cut deeper into surrounding rural areas, causing environmental problems, such as the loss of wetlands, loss of biological habitats, and air and water pollution. The high density of automobiles, factories, and commercial enterprises in urban areas adds to airborne emissions, including particulate matter, various types of oxides, and hazardous volatile compounds.
Your selected city is experiencing rapid growth in population. The City Council is worried that this pattern of population growth, combined with concerns over climate change, is beginning to create a number of negative environmental, economic, and social consequences. These include deteriorating infrastructure, increasing traffic congestion, declining air and water quality, and the loss of open space. The City Council has charged you with writing a report that will recommend measures to address the pollution issues and reduce carbon emissions.
Make decisions on the optimal measures for addressing the pollution management issue. Choose four of the following measures based on pollution reduction:
• Pollution control legislation for point sources
• Random emission testing
• Encouraging alternative transportation, walking, and bicycle use
• Promoting fuel-efficient cars
• Establishing green spaces or urban forestry
• Improving roads
• Encouraging carpooling
Write a 700- to 1,050-word summary briefly describing the background information and details. Include the following information:
• Describe your selected measures.
• From an environmental science and climate change perspective, describe the potential effectiveness of your selected measures.
• Trade-offs for the various pollution reduction measures, including potential improvements in human and ecosystem health: For example, bringing in legislation to install pollution control devices in factories may sound like an effective choice, but installation of such devices is a huge expense, and there is likelihood of strong opposition by business groups.
• Explain the following statement: "Decision-making about environmental issues necessitates the maintenance of a fine balance between the effectiveness of measures and the public reaction towards them."
Include at least two outside references. Format your summary consistent with APA guidelines.
Environmental Pollution Argument
Select a physical item. Your selected item must represent some aspect concerning environmental pollution as a direct result of human activities. Write a 700- to 1,050-word argument discussing how your selected item contributes to environmental pollution. Include the following:
• Describe your selected item.
• What is the significance of this item?
• What relationship exists between your item and pollution? Identify the origin or causes of the pollution.
• What is your item's relationship to people and the environment?
• What are the possible effects and consequences of this pollution to human and ecosystem health?
• What does your item and pollution issue mean to the present and future quality of life to you, your family, your community, your region, the nation, and the world?
• How does your object relate to climate change?
• How does your item connect some significant attitude or action that people might use toward changing how others think, react, or take actions in solving, eliminating, or reducing your selected pollution issue?
• Identify treatments and preventative measures for this pollution.
• Identify and discuss what caused you to reconsider your attitude, mindset, values, and actions to change regarding your selected issue.
• How or what might you do to suggest, influence, or be a role model who inspires individuals, your community, or region to improve the existing conditions of the environment in relationship to your item and your selected issue?