Critiquing the Clean Air Act and Informing the Public about Its Importance

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Critiquing the Clean Air Act and Informing the Public about Its Importance
Almost everyone understands that clean air is a crucial element in humans, plants, and other animals’ survival. For example, people breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. For individuals to avoid diseases and complications, they should breathe in the purest air. Animals and plants contribute to the balance of gases in the atmosphere. However, air pollution has become a significant issue that affects humans, plants, and other creatures. Industrialization fosters the contamination of air since there exist numerous pollutants. For example, greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, are released into the atmosphere. These harmful air pollutants affect people’s respiratory tract and their health adversely. That is the reason that environmental policies are enacted to eliminate air pollution and promote individuals’ health and well-being. The paper provides a detailed critique of the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 and informs the public on how they should adhere to this policy to facilitate healthy lifestyles and a habitable planet for existing and upcoming generations.
The CAA sets the standards for air quality to safeguard public welfare and health. The primary aim of this policy is to prevent and control air pollution (Environmental Protection Agency). The fascinating thing about humans is that they are the enemies of themselves. When someone is implementing measures to combat air pollution another person is setting up a factory that releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere without treating them. In that light, without enacting and enforcing effective policies to eliminate air pollution, the planet will gradually become inhabitable for animals and planets. The CAA encourages cooperation among relevant stakeholders, such as local, federal, and state governments to control and prevent air pollution. Indeed, it also promotes research and the introduction of programs to facilitate clean air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States of America (USA) monitors, inspects, and keeps records of all firms that emit air pollutants. Those that decrease their emissions of pollutants by 90-95% qualify for waivers (Environmental Protection Agency). As such, the CAA is an essential environmental policy in the USA that plays a significant role to maintain air quality and foster healthy lifestyles.
The majority of individuals might wonder which air pollutants are decreased by the implementation of the CAA. In particular, the CAA has significantly contributed to the reduction of seven primary common air pollutants, namely sulfur dioxide, ozone, particles, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead (Environmental Protection Agency). The emissions emanating from these pollutants have decreased by 78% from 1970 to 2020. That is one of the reasons the USA economy remains stable due to the maintenance of proper individuals’ health. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has improved the air quality that Americans breathe. On that note, it contributes to the increase in life expectancy, meaning that people are con...