air p2
ozone
ozone + fine particulates =smog.
smog is the haze over our cities consisting of fine particulates and ozone. Ozone occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like methane, react in the presence of sunlight. And the problem is not the sunlight.
fine particulates and ozone (=smog) have been linked to deaths from heart disease, stroke and lung cancer around the globe.
California is moving forward with emissions-cutting measures while the EPA is delaying implementation of current limits on ozone, the lung searing gas in smog. Obama administration EPA strengthened the 2008 limit and adopted the 70 parts per billion (ppb) limit on ozone in 2015.
air pollution kills 3 million people every year Smithsonian magazine
Earth
Earth's climate is warming. 97% of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are due to human activities. "Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal," says The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
the majority of the world's manmade carbon emissions are released by burning fossil fuels to create electricity, heat or motion. This means that it will be impossible to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations to sustainable levels unless we stop using fossil fuels and begin using 100% lowcarbon energy.
Earth science or geoscience is a term for the fields of science related to the planet Earth. Physical geography covers aspects of geomorphology, soil study, hydrology, meteorology, climatology (from Greek place), and biogeography. Climatology is the study of atmospheric changes.
trees
air pollution irritates our respiratory system, aggravates asthma and causes permanent lung damage, as well as affecting the growth of plants and trees which provide oxygen. And without oxygen we die.
forests make up a carbon sink and sequester carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. Carbon is stored in the leaves and stems of plants when they absorb CO2 and use it to grow.
when trees are cut down and decompose or are burned, they release the carbon dioxide they soaked up from the atmosphere. Keeping trees intact can help slow the pace of global warming.
Union of Concerned Scientists blog. Science for a healthy planet and safer world
price on carbon
The single most important thing we can do is to put a price on carbon. Watch the video.
The Climate Leadership Council has developed a draft policy that taxes climate pollution and redirects the money to taxpayers in order to reach a global price on carbon.
- gradually rising carbon tax: a tax on fossil fuel combustion lets energy prices reflect the damage done to the climate from carbon dioxide emissions.
- carbon dividends for all: money raised by the levy is refunded monthly to taxpayers.turning distant climate benefits into immediate cash.
- regulatory rollback: safely rolls back climate regulations.
- climate domino effect based on border carbon adjustments: a border tax on goods from countries without a carbon tax to protect the competitiveness of the countries with a carbon tax.
- AirNow.gov enter your zipcode for your air quality index
- State of the Air enter your zipcode for your air quality index
cities
cities are key to reducing global warming since urban areas account for nearly three-quarters of human emissions. More than half of us now live in cities, and we're using up Nature's resources as never before.
cars
vehicles increase the emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other pollutants, including volatile organic compounds.
we must exclude fossil fuels as an energy source option and reward sustainable and renewable energy solutions.
burning fossil fuels have caused global CO2 concentrations to rise since pre-industrial times when it was around 120ppm, (400ppm today).
we can reduce emissions by controlling the emissions from power plants, waste disposal factories, farms and restaurants, and cars and trucks.
Clean Air Act
Learn more about global warming and how to reduce emissions: Clean Air Act
news
President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping said on Jan 17 2017, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, "It is important to protect the environment while pursuing economic and social progress to achieve harmony between man and nature, and harmony between man society."
and in other news ... Chinese solar power output increased 80 percent in the first quarter of 2017. US ranked 4th in the world behind China, Germany, and Japan.