Summary:
With air pollution taking the lead as the biggest global environmental killer, government intervention is necessary to mitigate the issue. Many scientists agree that restricting carbon emissions is an ideal solution to this global issue, but does this mean that car bans would actually make a difference? Early on in the year, Paris' City Hall saw the need to control air pollution due to horrible visibility levels, so they decided to take unprecedented measures. A partial car ban was launched, as well as a policy that made public transportation free. The 5.6 million dollars (€4 million) that the city spent per day on these measures seemed well-invested in the first two days. Improvements in visibility levels were evident, but the long-term effects on air quality remain unknown.
Many people criticize car bans and their ability to improve air quality in the long run. This negativity stems from the bad experiences that other megacities encounter with these measures. For example, Mexico City actually saw increased air pollution as people were driven to buy extra cars. Similarly, the good intentions of Paris' City Hall did not provide continuos improvement. As engineer Charlotte Songeur notes, perhaps the short-term improvements in air quality were simply due to favorable weather conditions. In other words, short-term measures like partial car bans will do little to nothing about extreme spikes in pollution, but long-term measures will actually make a difference in air quality. Nonetheless, the temporary car ban managed to teach Parisians that air pollution is an issue that can no longer be ignored.
Many people criticize car bans and their ability to improve air quality in the long run. This negativity stems from the bad experiences that other megacities encounter with these measures. For example, Mexico City actually saw increased air pollution as people were driven to buy extra cars. Similarly, the good intentions of Paris' City Hall did not provide continuos improvement. As engineer Charlotte Songeur notes, perhaps the short-term improvements in air quality were simply due to favorable weather conditions. In other words, short-term measures like partial car bans will do little to nothing about extreme spikes in pollution, but long-term measures will actually make a difference in air quality. Nonetheless, the temporary car ban managed to teach Parisians that air pollution is an issue that can no longer be ignored.
Reaction:
Just as air pollution is a something that we have all contributed to over the years, the measures that have to be taken to mitigate it will require long-term measures to which we are all committed. Neither Paris nor Mexico City were successful in improving air quality with their short-term measures,which convinces me that a big part of the solution depends on our ability to adapt. For example, car bans are useless if they are just temporary and if people are unwilling to use public transportation. I believe that Paris was on the right track by offering its people free public transportation, but they have to consider implementing policies that have more reasonable budgets yet voice a concern. Some politicians advocate other ways of reducing carbon emissions, such as by turning people to carpooling and electric vehicles. The information in this article debunks the belief that environmental problems should be handled by the government by revealing that government intervention does little on its own. It also supports a belief held by scientists studying global warming, which is that commitment on our behalf is the most important part of any solution to this issue. Therefore, I agree with the articles statement that "only long-term measures will actually improve air quality".
Vocabulary:
Pollution- the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.
Weather- short-term conditions of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, rain, pressure, etc.
Ominously- in a way that gives the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.
"Air quality"- the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring a number of indicators of pollution.
"Carbon monoxide"- a colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon.
Smog- fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. There are two types of this, photochemical and industrial.
Chateaux- a stately residence imitating a distinctively French castle.
Weather- short-term conditions of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, rain, pressure, etc.
Ominously- in a way that gives the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.
"Air quality"- the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring a number of indicators of pollution.
"Carbon monoxide"- a colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon.
Smog- fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. There are two types of this, photochemical and industrial.
Chateaux- a stately residence imitating a distinctively French castle.
Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/19/travel/paris-pollution-car-ban/