What will reduce air pollution

Many pollutants are still being released and some substances have been found to be pollutants that were not known to be pollutants in the past.

There is still much work to be done to continue to clean up the air. How can air pollution be reduced? Using less fossil fuel is one way to lessen pollution. Some examples of ways to conserve fossil fuels are:. Developing alternative energy sources is important. What are some of the problems facing wider adoption of alternative energy sources?

A plug-in hybrid is plugged into an electricity source when it is not in use, perhaps in a garage, to make sure that the battery is charged. Plug-in hybrids run for a longer time on electricity and so are less polluting than regular hybrids. Plug-in hybrids are beginning to become available in Pollutants are removed from the exhaust streams of power plants and industrial plants before they enter the atmosphere. Particulates can be filtered out, and sulfur and nitric oxides can be broken down by catalysts.

Removing these oxides reduces the pollutants that cause acid rain. Particles are relatively easy to remove from emissions by using motion or electricity to separate particles from the gases.

Scrubbers remove particles and waste gases from exhaust using liquids or neutralizing materials Figure below. Gases, such as nitrogen oxides, can be broken down at very high temperatures. Gasification is a developing technology. In gasification, coal rarely is another organic material used is heated to extremely high temperatures to create syngas, which is then filtered and the energy goes on to drive a generator.

Clean coal plants do not need scrubbers or other pollution control devices. Although the technology is ready, clean coal plants are more expensive to construct and operate. Also, heating the coal to high enough temperatures uses a great deal of energy, so the technology is not energy efficient.

In addition, large amounts of the greenhouse gas CO 2 are still released with clean coal technology. Nonetheless, a few of these plants are operating in the United States and around the world.

One success story in reducing pollutants that harm the atmosphere concerns ozone-destroying chemicals. In , scientists calculated that CFCs could reach the stratosphere and break apart. This would release chlorine atoms, which would then destroy ozone. Based only on their calculations, the United States and most Scandinavian countries banned CFCs in spray cans in More confirmation that CFCs break down ozone was needed before more was done to reduce production of ozone-destroying chemicals.

The Montreal Protocol controls the production and consumption of 96 chemicals that damage the ozone layer Figure below. Hazardous substances are phased out first by developed nations and one decade later by developing nations.

More hazardous substances are phased out more quickly. CFCs have been mostly phased out since , although were used in developing nations until Some of the less hazardous substances will not be phased out until The Protocol also requires that wealthier nations donate money to develop technologies that will replace these chemicals.

Ozone levels over North America decreased between and Models of the future predict what ozone levels would have been if CFCs were not being phased out. Warmer colors indicate more ozone. Had CFCs not been phased out, by there would have been 10 times more skin cancer cases than in The result would have been about 20 million more cases of skin cancer in the United States and million cases globally.

Drive your car less. Vehicle exhaust is a major source of air pollution in Minnesota. Electric vehicles. How could you burn less fuel? Keep your car in good repair. Fix exhaust and oxygen sensor problems ASAP. Check tire pressure monthly. Turn off your engine. An idling engine creates a hot spot of pollution. Buses and big trucks produce particularly unhealthy exhaust. Parents and teachers can help their schools and daycares develop and implement no-idling policies. MPCA has resources to get started.

Don't burn your garbage. Burning your household garbage is dangerous to your health and our environment, and generally against the law in Minnesota. If you're still using a burn barrel, wood stove, or fire-pit for your trash, it's time for a change. Learn what you can do. Stop having campfires in the city.

Smoky areas resulting from campfires in the city can cause unhealthy conditions for hundreds of people, especially during stagnant weather conditions. Since cities have elevated levels of pollution compared to Greater Minnesota already, please limit the number of campfires you start in urban locations.

Other significant interventions that improve both health by reducing PM2. This is a great step to remove air pollution and CO2 levels. Specific technologies and education can improve outcomes for farmers without burning — creating win-win situations. Education and support for agricultural extension programmes in developing countries are key to their success. Poland, for example, has largely phased out the practice of burning the stubble left after the wheat harvest.

Government initiatives in Delhi to combat crop burning, a significant source of air pollution, include awareness and capacity building, technological interventions, and subsidies for farmers to purchase straw management machines. Still, the twice-annual traditional crop burning contributes significantly to Delhi's notorious haze. Our team considered 22 interventions with dozens of supporting case studies with the goal of helping governments and policy-makers determine which interventions may be most practical and beneficial for their particular problems.

Climate change poses an urgent threat demanding decisive action. Communities around the world are already experiencing increased climate impacts, from droughts to floods to rising seas. The World Economic Forum's Climate Initiative supports the scaling and acceleration of global climate action through public and private-sector collaboration.

The Initiative works across several workstreams to develop and implement inclusive and ambitious solutions. This includes the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a global network of business leaders from various industries developing cost-effective solutions to transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. CEOs use their position and influence with policy-makers and corporate partners to accelerate the transition and realize the economic benefits of delivering a safer climate.

Contact us to get involved. We know that exposure to PM2. We also know that increasingly the citizenry is demanding that its leaders take swift and sure action to combat air pollution, as underscored by a recent survey by the Clean Air Fund of people in the UK, Bulgaria, India, Nigeria and Poland.

As The New York Times reports , the survey, which was conducted during the pandemic between 22 May 22 and 2 June, found overwhelming support for stricter air quality regulations and better enforcement of existing rules. The most important step for municipal and national agencies to reduce air pollution is to raise their level of ambition in achieving their air quality and climate objectives. The overall aim must be an economy where development is uncoupled from resource use and energy provision is de-carbonized.

Short-term actions can then be selected and implemented within that framework. The solutions exist — and with technical support, strategic funding, and public and private initiatives, we can successfully improve public health and combat climate change. Richard Fuller , President, Pure Earth. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement have rebounded by 4.