Air pollution concentrations have been rapidly increasing in the major urban areas of Brazil caused mainly by the increasing use of vehicles. Policies to control car emissions in Brazil have relied basically on mandatory emission standards and subsidies for specific cleaner technology resulting in substantial decrease of car emission rates. Nevertheless, taxes on car sales, differentiated by vehicles' size and fuel, have also influenced car emission patterns. This paper analyses the compliance trend of the Brazilian fleet with environmental standards between 1992 and 1997. We find that larger automobiles had the fastest compliance schedule while popular models adjusted very slowly. Also gasoline-fuelled models had a faster adjustment pattern than ethanol cars. Additionally, we analyse the current relationship between pollution emissions and car characteristics in order to orient policy formulation. We find a positive relationship between emissions rates and horse power, concluding that although the current value-added sale car tax is not environmental harmful, a tax differentiating clean from dirty models, within each tax bracket, could create substantial incentives for emission control in the future. Urban air pollution is a serious environmental problem in developed as well as in most developing countries. In the case of Brazil, air pollution concentrations have been rapidly increasing in the major urban areas over the last decades. As elsewhere, this expansion has been caused mainly by the increasing use of vehicles. Today, emissions from vehicles are the major source of air pollution in Brazil's largest cities. In 1997 in São Paulo, for example, private cars were responsible for approximately 75% of carbon monoxide (CO), 73% of hydrocarbons (HC), 23% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 10% particulate matter (PM) Costs associated with high air pollution concentrations in large cities are known to be important. Human health costs predominate, and range from eye irritations to respiratory problems and increasing cancer rates, all of which induce direct and indirect costs to society2. They also estimate the health costs associated with concentration levels in excess of air pollution standards, finding a loss of approximately US$ 700 million per year in the early 1990s. Even when consumers can perceive individual emission damage, they are unable to reduce alone the aggregate social emission costs. Consequently, their preferences will usually not consider fuel and car cleanliness. In the presence of this negative externality, environmental regulation is required. If we were able to measure emissions by individual cars, the first best incentive option for car emission control would be the imposition of a Pigovian tax on each source according to its marginal contribution to air pollution damages.
Air pollution affects both New York’s environment and people. Emissions from industry, power plants, and vehicles are released into the atmosphere, causing smog, photochemical smog, particulate matter, ground level ozone, and acid rain. Air pollutants lead to respiratory problems in humans, and increase the severity in those who already have respiratory system related illnesses. Acid precipitation damages buildings, cars, trees, and crops, which can cause quite a financial burden – this is especially concerning when it comes to preserving New York City’s many historic buildings. Air pollution also contributes towards global warming which causes a change in the Earth’s climate. Drastic actions need to be put in motion in order for the issue
According to Brinson, “Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared cars "mobile sources" of pollution, they aren’t the only culprits. Big trucks, bulldozers, ships and boats, trains and even snow-blower 's pollute the air. According to the EPA, motor vehicles collectively cause 75 percent of carbon monoxide pollution in the U.S. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) estimates that on-road vehicles cause one-third of the air pollution that produces smog in the U.S., and transportation causes 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. has 30 percent of the world 's automobiles, yet it contributes about half of the world 's emissions from cars.” The United States has began imposing strict regulations on automotive
Land development causes danger to the environment by polluting the air and disrupting geological and animal status. Air pollution is a big problem with urban life. Large cities have the characteristic of having polluted skies. The Environmental Protection Agency passed an act, through legislation, called the Clean Air Act. The CAA set standards for all cities (Environmental Politics and Policies, 195). Some of these cities that do not meet such standards include Los Angels, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Houston. These limits are called National Ambient Air Quality Standards (189). The NAAQS sets a limit on the amount of Carbon Dioxide, Hydrocarbons, Air born Particulates, nitrogenoxides, lead, and sulfur oxides, and Ozone in the cities air. Such standards apply for 7 (192). The definition for Ozone: A strong oxidizing agent with disinfecting properties similar to chlorine; also used in odor control and sludge processing (Environmental Engineering, 219). Ozone is present in the high atmosphere, but at lower levels can be one of the most harmful gases on Earth (Our Poison...
Pollution is a major problem for all of us. People need to recognize this situation so we can start making a difference to this problem. In order to start making a difference, the federal government should increase gasoline tax by one dollar a gallon. Fifty percent of this dollar will go towards public transportation, since passenger cars and trucks are a major contribution towards air pollution, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, E.P.A (10/4, http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/emsns.html). Due to the expected increase after this is put forth, the remaining fifty percent of the dollar will go towards safety on these transits. When public transportation increases, air pollution will decrease, which will lessen the harmful health risks towards the environment.
Purchasing a car is one of the hugest or biggest accomplishments that a person can achieve on their own. However, what happens when that purchase turns out to also be the worst decision that was ever made? The purchase was a success and a goal was achieved, but the moment the key is turned and the engine is started the contribution to environmental harm begins. As the car is driven, the gasoline fumes that are released from the car contribute to the other many factors and pollutants that damage the environment. Not only is the purchase now a contributor to the depletion of clean air, but it could also play a part in the depletion of someone’s health. For example, asthma or bronchitis could develop in an adult or child as a direct result of breathing in noxious automotive fumes. Depending on where one lives, there could be strict regulations on air pollution. One must be accountable for any and all contributions made to the demise of what was once a healthy Earth. One must be accountable for his or her own carbon footprint. Some individuals have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprints and cause less harm to the environment by purchasing electric cars.
If progress is made toward making cars and trucks continuously more and more environmentally friendly, then the biggest source of harmful emission into the atmosphere will be put to a stop. On average, for each mile driven in a standard vehicle, 411 grams of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere, this equates to roughly 4.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, whereas a car that operates fully on electricity releases no tailpipe emissions into the atmosphere(EPA, 1). As this staggering
There is no question that pollution from automobiles is a major problem in industrialized countries and is increasing in developing nations. And the number of cars is increasingly rapidly: in the United States, the automobile population has increased 6X faster than the human population and 2X faster than the number of new drivers (Motavelli, 2000). At the same time, the average fuel economy of the 2001 fleet decreased to 20.4 miles per gallon, the same it was in 1980. This decrease is fueled by the growing trend in inefficient SUVs. As over 50% of the USA’s oil comes from overseas, the dangerous level of waste promoted by inefficient vehicles makes this more than simply an environmental issue.
Many cities are currently affected by air pollution and Hong Kong is one example. Hong Kong’s air pollution level often exceeds the recommended air pollution level put out by the World Health Organization, and Hong Kong’s pollution index was at “very high” meaning that it exceeded 101, for 34% of the time (Hunt, 2011). Another example, when Hong Kong excee...
The exhausts of vehicles, internal combustion engines, are a main source of emissions. Before 1900s, this severe problem was not recognized due to the small numbers of automobile. However, this problem became bigger with the increasing of cars due to the increase in populations. By the 1940s the problem of pollution first appeared in the USA, Los Angeles, due to the high numbers of cars and population. By 1970 the problem of emissions was clearly recognized in most American cities which might indicate that the internal combustion engine is the
changing preferences of the everyday citizen. More and more people are moving into the city
People all around the world use cars and trucks to transport themselves and their goods from place to place, so analyzing the auto industry gives insight into hundreds of millions consumers worldwide. Since there are cars in nearly every country, the supply and demand of automobiles greatly increases each year, as people want a faster, more convenient way of travelling. At the same time, emissions from automobiles add to the growing pollution in the environment, which also affects people around the world. Since environmental change and automobile use are directly linked, the environment and climate change, as well as ideas to pursue new regulations, have a strong impact on the auto industry.
Air pollution is caused by many things such as car fumes, burning of fossil fuels,
Car pollutants cause immediate and long-term effects on the environment. Car exhausts emit a wide range of gases and solid matter, causing global warming, acid rain, and harming the environment and human health. Engine noise and fuel spills also cause pollution. Cars, trucks and other forms of transportation are the single largest contributor to air pollution in the United States, but car owners can reduce their vehicle's effects on the environment. Car pollution is one of the major causes of global warming. Cars and trucks emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute one-fifth of the United States' total global warming pollution. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, which causes worldwide temperatures to rise.
Government authorities may apply heavy taxation in order to prevent the automobile industry from abusing fossil fuel and CO2 emissions.
Every other day a new industries are being set up, new vehicles on roads and trees are being cut to make way for new homes. All of them, indirect way lead to increase in CO2 leads to melting of polar ice caps which increase the sea level and pose danger for the people living near coastal areas. Pollution can have an impact in our health not only affects people with impaired respiratory system such as asthmatics, but very healthy adults and children too. Exposure to pollution for 6 to 7 hours, even at relatively low concentrations, reduces lung function and induces respiratory inflammation and, healthy people during periods of moderate