Isn’t it disappointing to not be able to breathe freely or have a sound sleep, or worry about drinking water that will make you sick the next morning? How can one not be unhappy and worry about such glaring truths. That is not all, there is more that adds up to the already high level mess present in our world.
As you all know, the entire world is suffering from every type of pollution.
Introducing, Trans-boundary pollution.
Trans-boundary pollution, is the idea of a local environment affecting another environment thousands of miles away.
Global circulatory systems like river or ocean are being severely polluted. It is not just us who suffer from this issue, but the entire world; There are multiple countries being affected here.
As a matter of fact, Hebei in China has enormous firms polluting so much, that its neighboring countries, including India, are facing the consequences! As if pollutants being emitted within the individual country is not enough of a problem.Its sadistic… Because it wont show up in the place of origin, but elsewhere and there are enough people who don’t care beyond their homes. Moreover, the threat is also due to those who may want to actually harm their neighbors.
In January 2008, a cement plant in Hebei had over-discharged dust pollution which then crossed the province border and damaged soil and crop production extended all the way to Nepal and India – incredibly sad, right? I went into the depth of this research, and found out that despite the environmental policies by the central government, free-riding and pollution havens still highly existed due to these polices being decentralized in no time. How disturbing it is to know that while some of us try ways to redeem the bad to the good, there always is something pulling us back.
Decentralizing policies only increase the level of misused power by the local government who did not look much into this issue as they got away by being bribed.
Nonetheless, with the bad comes the good. The issues of trans-boundary pollution are currently being looked upon by the national level by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) at the regional levels and by the Environmental Protection Bureaus (EPBs) at local levels.
These policies measure the emissions and impose penalties when standards are not met. However, just like I said, citizens evaluate this issue more economically than environmentally, resulting in significant environmental degradation. The polluting firms usually are attracted to regions with market opportunities and the labour is cheap and skilled to set up industries.
Also, these firms usually take into account the severity of environmental regulation when deciding where to set up: cost of polluting has significantly risen.
Could you have guessed that pollution estimate charges lead to a significant increase in expenditures on end-of-pipe water treatment facilities at the plant-level?
Moreover, a higher number of inspections lead to a higher expected penalty for firms that do not comply with environmental standards thus, significantly reducing the water and air pollution levels.
As you’ve read through this piece, it is certain that you’ve understood how trans-boundary pollution in itself if a life threatening problem that cause several other problems. It affects the entire world body because every border region suffers due to pollutant emissions by every other border region.
So yes, it is needed to say that we should not only depend upon the government to put their putdown against this issue, but do it ourselves too. Which may include forgoing few cheap thrills like cracker bursting or burning garbage or even bathing in rivers in the name of religion etc. We have to realize that the small things we do make a big difference and lead a life where we care for us and for others as well.
It is high time to say, and we will do well to remember, that
KARMA IS A BITCH
and
WHAT GOES AROUND MAY COME BACK AROUND WITH A HUGE BANG.
It is a good sign that government is making changes to reduce the impact of transboundary pollution, predicting future polluting costs, limiting waste products and have better allocation of resources.
It shows that we still have a way to stop this problem altogether, so as citizens, shouldn’t
we at least try?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
And hey, here is a cool link to stay abreast with nature!