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TIANMUN 2018 Environment Commission –
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Chinese Citizens in Beijing
FORUM: Environment Commission
ISSUE: Measures to Resolve Air Pollution Caused by
Factory Emissions
STUDENT OFFICER: DongEun Lee
POSITION: Deputy President of Environment Commission
Introduction
The more factories there are, the more pollution there is. Humans build factories for our good
such as efficient manufacturing of products and expanded workplace. But can we really build
factories by merely looking at its benefits? It rather has more harmful aspects than beneficial aspects.
Air pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals or compounds in the air, at levels that
pose a health risk. It may also be defined as the presence of chemicals or compounds that are not
usually present and which can lower the quality of air or cause detrimental changes to the quality of
life. There are several factors that cause this to happen – man-made and naturally made. There are
man-made factors such as the gas emitted from factories and there are also naturally made factors
such as dust blown from nearby deserts. However, we humans cause the majority of air pollution that
occurs on this planet and contributes to global pollution rather than local pollution.
Background Air pollution leaves and will continue to
leave distinct marks on Earth. China is one of the
countries that have gone through the detrimental
effects of air pollution. Air pollution is more
common and severe in the northern part than the
southern part of China. According to the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America, the concentration of TSPs (Trisodium Phosphate, 𝑁𝑎#𝑃𝑂# ) – a chemical compound used
in household bleach and stain removers – is higher in the northern part by 55% than the southern
part. This indicates that life expectancies in the north are approximately 5.5 years lower in places
that have severe air pollutions. Another place air pollution left a footstep is in India. The main
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Air pollution may lead to severe storms.
reasons for such severe pollution are coal-powered plants, frequent use of transportation and
inefficient use of energy in buildings. According to the World Health Organization, the particles of
chemical compounds found in Indian cities are way smaller than the ones usually found. Normal
ones have PM 10, which means 10 microns in diameter whereas the ones in India have PM 2.5,
which is four times smaller than the particles with PM 10. The smaller the particle, the longer it can
linger in the air and the deeper it can penetrate through one’s lungs.
Problems Raised Health Issues Health problems always go with air pollution, they are inseparable. The air in the atmosphere
is very crucial to the well-being of humans. Carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases lead
to more frequent and intense heat waves that may increase human mortality – especially the elderly
and the poor. Other than carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air may also
cause asthma and other respiratory problems. Moreover, ozone (unstable toxic gas, created by the
relations of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight) can
aggravate lung diseases, permanent damage to lungs and even premature death.
Climate Change Air pollution not only causes health issues
but also cause a dramatic change to the Earth’s
climate. Carbon pollution and the climate change
caused by air pollution have led to more hurricane
and storms, frequent and heavier flooding, increased
drought, and more harsh wildfires. There are also
more caused by air pollution – ocean acidification,
sea level rise, etc.
Humans use fossil fuels every day. Whether it’s used for electricity, heat used in our homes
during the winter, and oil used in public transportation, we all use fossil fuel in a different kind of
form. However, the extraction and burning of these fossil fuels include the process of emitting
carbon dioxide to the air. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not only the main player of air pollution, but also
the main source of climate change.
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Delhi Government Adds More Public Transport
International Actions Issuing Fines for Pollution Violation China, one of the main players in air pollution, has promised zero tolerance for firms
violating environmental violations, which includes air pollution. The Chinese Environment Ministry
accused firms violating regulations a total 1.02 billion Yuan ($154 million) in the first 10 months of
2017. As the Chinese MEP (Ministry of Environmental Protection) realized that cases of violating
these environmental were increasing, the country decided to increase the fines by 48 percent.
In Europe, the United Kingdom has faced a public health emergency due to high levels of air
pollution. Due to these high levels of pollution, the country is at the risk of paying multi-millions of
euros according to the European Court of Justice. Not only the UK, but several other countries of
Europe have also received warnings to regulate their air quality standards. If they fail to enhance
their air quality, they will automatically need to pay a huge number of fines.
Promoting the Use of Public Transportation Many cities in the world are dealing with the increasing usage of private cars. Private cars not
only emit large amounts of toxic gas, but also cause noise pollution in the presence of traffic jam.
Singapore, a small Asian city-state country, suffered greatly from increasing private car numbers.
Recently, they have made limits on the number of cars the citizens can own. The country has made
limits with making license permits as well as license plates. Singapore’s population is 5.6 million
while its private car number stays approximately 600,000.
New Delhi – one of the most air
polluted cities in the world – has recently
decided to allow cars depending whether its
license plate ended in an even or an odd
number. In addition, they have added more
public transportation to make sure the citizens
whose cars were restricted on a particular day.
The government is encouraging New Delhi
citizens to use public transport than private
cars.
Key Players
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India's Air Pollution Rivals China’s as World’s deadliest
China China and air pollution are inseparable since China has been one of the top countries with the
highest levels of air pollution. With less than ten percent among 360 cities meeting national air
quality standards, it is reported that approximately thousands and thousands of people die in China
due to air pollution. China’s air pollutants have also affected nearby countries such as Japan and
South Korea. According to The Korea Herald, large number of fireworks used in China for its Spring
Festival has raised the fine dust level. With further research, it has also been proven that the fine
dusts from China travel long distances to reach the Korea Peninsula.
Although the country is notorious for its polluted air, the country is in its progress of cutting
down the air pollution. Since the ruling political party in China is the CCP (Chinese Communist
Party), the country is in ease with controlling air pollution. When Chinese citizens fail to regulate air
pollution in factories or coal plants, they will face harsh punishments or a considerable number of
fines from the government.
India With approximately 1.3 billion population,
eleven out of the twelve most polluted cities in the
world is in India. The source of the pollution comes
from the burning of coal, wood for cooking, dust
storms, and forest fires. India’s hills and mountains act
as basins that trap toxic air, making the air very
dangerous to breathe. Another factor making India one
of the most polluted countries in the world is poor
governance. The government is lacking enforcement
of standards for car exhausts, crop burning, and regulations of dust from construction sites. While
China has made some noticeable progress in regulating air pollution, India’s government is still
struggling with governing air pollution.
World Health Organization (WHO) Partnered with the United Nations and with more than 7000 people working in 150 countries,
the World Health Organization is one of the organizations that is deeply in concern with the issue of
air pollution. The WHO is planning to open a global conference between October 30th, 2018 and
November 1st , 2018. They are planning to discuss the harmful issues air pollution evokes and how
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Turning off lights that are not in use can conserve energy.
air pollution causes the acceleration of climate change. The organization has been constantly active,
leading campaigns such as BreatheLife and creating global air pollution maps and databases.
Possible Solutions Encouraging Citizens to Conserve Energy Although it may be a weaker solution than others, it is also the best solution to solve this
issue. People can start conserving energy by turning off lights that are not in use and using energy
efficient light bulbs. People can also limit driving by carpooling, using public transportation, biking
and walking. For drivers, do regular car
checkups, keep car tires properly inflated and
buy energy efficient vehicles. For people in
general, use both sides of paper, use a fan
instead of an AC, wear layers of clothes
instead of turning on heat, avoid plastic bags,
quit smoking, reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Although these ways all seem unrelated to
reducing air pollution, they are actually related. Reducing waste means less air pollution since there
is less to burn down. Conserving electricity and oil mean less burning down of fossil fuels.
Government’s Effective and Stringent Policies Like China’s straightforward regulations mentioned before, the government’s effective and
strict policies related to air pollution might also be a solution to the world’s air pollution crisis. The
way the government deals with the pollution is actually more crucial than people think. The
government needs to give out guidelines to citizens who are willing to reduce air pollution. The
government also needs to legislate laws that inhibit factories and power plants from excessing air
quality standards. The more effective the policies are, the less air pollution there will be
Glossary Air Quality Index (AQI)
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A nationally uniform index used to indicate the quality of air. It is also used to report on the
four most common ambient air pollutants – ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide,
and sulfur dioxide. AQI is measured in numbers and ranging 1- 50 is classified as excellent, 51-100
classified moderate, 101-200 classified as unhealthy and 201- 500 is classified as hazardous. The
AQI system is a universal system where it can be applied to any countries in the world.
Carbon Dioxide A colorless greenhouse gas having an odor and a sour taste. Being a minor component of
Earth’s atmosphere, carbon dioxide is formed in the process of fermentation, daily respiration of
living beings and the photosynthesis of plants.
Ozone A colorless, odorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms. Naturally found in Earth’s
stratosphere (50km above the surface), chemical pollutants formed by daily activities on Earth react
with sunlight and form ozone. While ozone above the atmosphere is harm-free, ozone at ground level
is a harmful pollutant due to its hazardous effects on humans and the environment. It is also known
as one of the main ingredients of smog (fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric
pollutants).
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