As time goes on, cities are becoming more populated, leading to bigger bustle, more transportation, and higher energy. However, the growing industrialization and urban development has been one of the primary reasons why air pollution is being declared a medical and environmental emergency.
Let's look through a few examples across the globe:
The United States of America: According to the EPA, "66 million tons of pollution were admitted into the atmosphere" in 2023. Additionally, in-land ports, are being recognized as "cancer-clusters", heightening the risk of disease in all ages of the population.
India: My home country is notoriously known for the amount of air pollution that surrounds big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, etc. The amount of smoke that a typical Indian teenager has to encounter has caused their lungs to become black. That's right. The same as a smoker in their mid 40s.
United Kingdom: A nine year old girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah was the first person to hvae air pollution listed as a cause of death. The fumes from transportations trucks fatally flared her asthma and immune system.
These stories are nothing compared to the countless health issues that air pollution has brought to people all over the globe. This is a health emergency. The lung damage that comes from the air's toxins is irreversible and can only spread throughout the body.
What can be done about this?
Andrea Vidavurre, the 2024 Goldman Environmentalist Prize Winner for North America has presented the idea of green transportation. This technology is not the same as ones you would find in Tesla's and electric vehicles nowadays, but rather engineered for bulky, transport trains that move to ports across the country. For many people who live like her, either in inland ports or extremely urbanized areas, going green in local transport can help reduce the air pollution in these areas. The obvious solution is to fossil fuel companies that have the power to tackle climate change. It's important to get our voice out there, to question things that we find morally unjust, and to propose creative and efficient solutions, no matter how big or small. By reducing air pollution, we not only can help our plants breathe, but ourselves as well.
