Environment Essay Sample: Random Emission Testing

Environmental protection has become one of the more pressing concerns of the modern day and age. There are several reasons for environmental issues being on the agenda regardless of the political climate or the way governments view these issues in the economic context. One of them is the rapid acceleration of climate change, leading to rising global temperatures and the melting of the polar ice caps. Another reason caring about the environment has transcended the trend status and is now becoming a serious stance is the urban areas growing denser and the countryside remaining underpopulated, which leads to random emission testing as a way to deal with these challenges. The expansion of green areas in big cities and carpooling as an environmentally friendly tactic have all fallen into the same category and now represent a holistic approach to our surroundings. The need for cleaner air and healthier cities has never been more pronounced in order to achieve a sustainable future for the current generation and the one that follows.

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Emissions testing and keeping the air clean

Emission testing is a complicated process. However, its basic definition comes down to the fact that measuring pollutants released by vehicles during the day will help monitor the amount of emissions per day and determine which of these emissions seems the most detrimental. This approach allows green professionals to assess the capacity of the vehicles and the threat that they represent as they evaluate the most dangerous vehicles and remove excessive polluters from the picture. The global emission chart suggests that the most harmful substances that continuously damage the atmosphere and the air that we breathe include the more known carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. All these substances are more than just names in your chemistry book that you can learn about and forget the next day. These emissions are directly linked to severe climate change, respiratory diseases among patients, and the reasons the environment has been declining at an alarming pace.

In big cities such as Los Angeles or New York, random emission testing has become a part of the normal routine for air quality management in urban areas. Not one of the citizens is embarrassed or especially surprised when they get pulled over for a thorough examination. Based on the Environmental Protection Agency information from 2023, these emission checks have actually helped reduce pollution in populated areas and even managed to aid ozone layers over time. The psychological meaning of these random checks is also important. Drivers feel more conscious about the condition of their beloved vehicles and are more likely to take better care of their cars if they know that occasional checks are something they cannot escape. According to psychologists working on environmental issues perception, this also increases the likelihood of the drivers choosing more eco-friendly vehicles as they know they will be tested.

Green zones in cities and urban landscapes

An urban green zone is an indicator of the place with lush greenery and active flora growth, such as parks and rooftop gardens. These small zones where tree lines combat air pollution are important for keeping the air in urban areas clean and healthy. As you probably know, trees and vegetation act as the natural respiratory system of the planet. This means that even a small number of trees on the street will still perform their function of absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen into the air. This results in clean and breathable air as well as natural cooling in cities that suffer from the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect occurs when large cities modify the landscape to the point where natural cooling seems impossible. The buildings block the wind, resulting in higher temperatures inside the city compared to the rural areas surrounding it.

Cities like Copenhagen and Singapore have decided to prevent the urban areas from overheating and have implemented strategies for greenery expansion with a surprisingly positive effect. For example, Copenhagen has a green tree initiative that allows the “greenification” of all public spaces, including rooftops. Over the years, this campaign resulted in populated areas in the capital being cooler by 7 degrees Celsius on average.

Benefits of green urban areas include:

• The complete absorption of air pollutants
• The gradual reduction of surface temperatures
• The prevention of active soil erosion in cities
• The improvement of stormwater management
• The improvement of people’s mental health
• The construction of recreational areas in cities

Sustainable transportation and a cleaner future

The urban air pollution situation is made worse by the fact that the transportation sector is still posing a major threat to clean air in big cities. However, there is a solution that can stop the harmful cycle from obtaining bigger proportions. Local communities in urban areas have already implemented changes that can make cities more environmentally aware, such as encouraging residents to cycle regularly, promoting the use of public transport instead of taking cabs or driving a car, and carpooling. Carpooling has been proven to reduce emissions and eliminate the problem of traffic concentration. Carpooling, more commonly known as ride-sharing, is a practice that involves passengers traveling together in a vehicle and cutting down the number of cars on the road.

Oregon is a good example of carpooling done right. The city’s municipal office initiated a carpooling campaign to promote the benefits of ride-sharing among local communities. As a result, the number of cars spotted on the roads has decreased by 20% in just a few years. Not only did this practice achieve the reduction of carbon emissions, but it also significantly improved the quality of air in the surrounding area and on highways and extended the lifespan of public transportation in the city, which suffered a rapid decline prior to the initiative. Carpooling can also foster communication among passengers and save money if you count the fuel costs and the combined price of a shared ride.

The combination of action and public acceptance

When implementing practices such as random emission testing and carpooling, it is essential to find a balance between the effectiveness of these initiatives and the public reaction to the initiative announcement. Drastic measures such as signaling cars to pull over so that the officers can perform emission testing procedures or traffic restrictions and draconian measures to minimize the number of cars on the road can be met with unexpected reactions from the citizens. Initially, the public might seem outraged and inconvenienced, but just like it happened with traffic congestion pricing in London, the community members will find ways to reconcile with the innovations and benefit from them long-term. Environmental regulations should be combined with educational programs and training to ensure the initiatives are met with cooperation and not resisted.

Conclusion

If the cities of the future plan to remain green and thriving with the support of the local governments involved, there should be initiatives implemented to prevent air pollution and climate change from escalating dramatically even now. Public environmental campaigns that include random emission testing, expanding green zones in global areas, sustainable transportation, and carpooling are meant to improve the daily lives of citizens and ensure a better future for the next generation of people who are determined to thrive both economically and socially without the threat of ozone layer depletion or the urban heat island effect becoming a reality.

References

Environmental Protection Agency (2023). Air Pollution Monitoring and Emission Standards in Urban Areas. US Environmental Protection Agency. pp. 15-29.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Urban Green Spaces. A Brief for Action. World Health Organization Press. pp. 7-21.