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Pollution & Climate Change

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Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. How did this all begin? The Great Smog of 1952. For five days in December 1952, the Great Smog of London smothered the city, wreaking havoc and killing thousands. The Great Smog Begins Clear skies dawned over London on December 5, 1952. A wintry cold snap had gripped the British capital for weeks, and as Londoners awoke, coal fireplaces were stoked in homes and businesses across the city to take the chill from the early morning air.

As the day progressed, a veil of fog—not unusual in a city famous for its cool, misty weather—began to enshroud Big Ben, St. Within a few hours, however, the fog began to turn a sickly shade of yellowish brown as it mixed with thousands of tons of soot pumped into the air by London’s factory smokestacks, chimneys and automobiles. Nonetheless, Londoners went about their business with typical British reserve, ignoring the foul air as much as possible. London Fog Becomes London Smog The Big Smoke Settles In Because of poor visibility, boat traffic on the River Thames came to a halt. Aftermath of the Big Smoke.

Causes. Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth | Environment. Avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact on the planet, according to the scientists behind the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet. The new research shows that without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75% – an area equivalent to the US, China, European Union and Australia combined – and still feed the world. Loss of wild areas to agriculture is the leading cause of the current mass extinction of wildlife. The new analysis shows that while meat and dairy provide just 18% of calories and 37% of protein, it uses the vast majority – 83% – of farmland and produces 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Other recent research shows 86% of all land mammals are now livestock or humans. “Agriculture is a sector that spans all the multitude of environmental problems,” he said. “Really it is animal products that are responsible for so much of this. Pie chart of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector in 2017. Publicity. SAVE OUR PLANET!!! How YOU can help protect our planet. Actions taken. Summary of the Clean Water Act | Laws & Regulations. The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.

The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972. Under the CWA, EPA has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry. EPA has also developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained. Compliance and Enforcement History of this Act More Information The EPA Watershed Academy provides training courses on statutes, watershed protection, and other key Clean Water Act resources. Summary of the Clean Air Act | Laws & Regulations. 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq. (1970) The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.

Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. One of the goals of the Act was to set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975 in order to address the public health and welfare risks posed by certain widespread air pollutants. The setting of these pollutant standards was coupled with directing the states to develop state implementation plans (SIPs), applicable to appropriate industrial sources in the state, in order to achieve these standards. Section 112 of the Clean Air Act addresses emissions of hazardous air pollutants. Compliance and Enforcement History of the Act More Information The Clean Air Act overview website. How can you help? Donate — Plastic Pollution Coalition. Donate - Pure Earth. Join the movement: Give now to end pollution, save lives, and provide a healthy future for all children. $1,000 educates two communities polluted by dangerous mercury from gold-mining.$500 cleans a lead-contaminated yard$200 helps clean a home$100 monitors the blood lead levels of an entire family Donate by Credit CardDonate by Check Donate Stocks and Securities Donate by PayPal Thank You For Making a Donation!

Consider Giving the Gift of a Toxic-Free Future Make a donation in honor of a special person. Include their name and address in the comments section when you make your donation and they will receive a personalized certificate letting them know a donation has been made by you in their honor. Donor Privacy Policy: (1) Pure Earth will not trade, share or sell a donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations (2) Pure Earth will only share personal information once the donor has given the charity specific permission to do so. Contact: #pollution hashtag on Instagram • Photos and Videos. Resources.