Resource dilemmas are issues where individuals must choose between their self-interests and the interests of others (Gruman et al., 2017). An issue that is commonly discussed as a resource dilemma is air pollution. Air pollution is the release of harmful pollutants into the air. These harmful pollutants negatively impact the Earth and our health. Despite the negative effects on our well-being we continue to contribute to the poor and unhealthy air quality that we breathe.
Burning fossil fuels, manufacturing chemicals, and driving vehicles are just a few ways how we contribute to air pollution. With that said, there are ways to implement more pro-environment behavior. A simple one is to drive less since the burning of fuel to operate vehicles releases hazardous chemicals, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide into the air (Washington State Department of Ecology, 2023). These poisonous chemicals affect our air quality and can lead to additional greenhouse gases. Along with that, the chemicals that are inhaled can increase your risk for respiratory issues, cancer, heart disease, and more (World Health Organization, 2019). Therefore it’s important to drive less, so we can help reduce the air pollution that is damaging our Earth.
Electric Car: 2024 Tesla Model S
Plus, there are tons of alternatives to driving that enable you to get from place to place, while being mindful of the environment. For instance, you can walk, skateboard, or ride your bike. All of these options are healthy and have benefits to them. More importantly, they reduce air pollutants from being released into the air. Other options include taking public transportation. Although it doesn’t eliminate air pollution, it will at least assist with reducing it. Another option is buying an electric car. Electric cars have been found to improve air quality while reducing air pollution drastically (Tonachel, 2015).
Therefore, let’s put in the effort to drive less, even a little bit helps! Pick a day when it’s nice out and try a different form of transportation rather than traditional driving. Ultimately, by implementing ways that are more environmentally friendly, we are helping to solve resource dilemmas, such as air pollution. So, let’s help take care of the Earth and drive less!
Isabella Slobodjian-Morta Psych 424: Applied Social Psychology
Gruman, J.A., Schneider, F.W., & Coutts, L.A. (2017). Applied Social Psychology. Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. SAGE.
Tonachel, L. (2015, September 17). Study: Electric vehicles can dramatically reduce carbon pollution from transportation, and improve air quality. Natural Resources Defense Council. https://www.nrdc.org/bio/luke-tonachel/study-electric-vehicles-can-dramatically-reduce-carbon-pollution-transportation
Washington State Department of Ecology. (2023). Reducing air pollution from cars. https://ecology.wa.gov/Issues-and-local-projects/Education-training/What-you-can-do/Reducing-car-pollution
World Health Organization. (2019, November 15). Health consequences of air pollution on populations. https://www.who.int/news/item/15-11-2019-what-are-health-consequences-of-air-pollution-on-populations#:~:text=It%20increases%20the%20risk%20of,poor%20people%20are%20more%20susceptible.
Your post got me thinking about what a world with less driving might look like. You identified a major issue- the International Energy Agency predicts global urban transportation emissions will double from 2014 to 2025, 90% are expected to come from private vehicles (Sisson, 2023).
I started doing some digging into driving bans and found some interesting information. A study about temporary driving bans in Santiago, Chilé estimated that the city has seen between 670 and 1340 fewer infant deaths per 100,000 infants during the five years the bans were implemented, due in part to the reduction of air pollution in the area (Rivera, 2021). There are other cities that employ temporary driving bans, including: Athens, Beijing, Berlin, Bogota, Mexico City, New Delhi, and São Paulo. Bans in U.S. cities have not yet been implemented, though several cities, including Seattle, WA, have attempted to launch car-free initiatives (Sisson, 2023).
Considering how the streets cleared and rush hours were no more during the pandemic, and the impact that pause had on the environment, do you think the U.S. could get behind temporary driving bans? Or would our sense of entitlement and spirit of individualism make it too difficult for the public to get behind? This is an important topic; thank you for covering it here!
References:
Rivera, N. M. (2021). Air quality warnings and temporary driving bans: Evidence from air pollution, car trips, and mass-transit ridership in Santiago. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeem.2021.102454
Sisson, P. (2023, February 28). Why cities are embracing the call for car-free streets. City Monitor. https://citymonitor.ai/transport/ban-cars-why-cities-are-embracing-the-call-for-car-free-streets