Problem: Air Pollution

Two Possible Solutions:

● Shifting towards alternative energy sources such as wind or nuclear power over fossil
fuels.
● Conservation and restoration of coral reefs, forests, and other plant life in order to
counteract carbon dioxide produced by humans.

Three Criteria of The Problem:

● Air pollution is making people sick, causing birth defects and lung problems.
● Air pollution is the greatest contributor to climate change and global warming.
● Air pollutants damage vegetation and crop yields.

Three constraints of the problem:

● Regulating the energy consumption of a country can be inconvenient, difficult, and
expensive.
● A project of such magnitude would require cooperation of governments and civilians.
● The efficiency of fossil fuels and the world’s reliance on it makes it difficult for countries
to quit fossil fuel usage.

Prioritization of Criteria and Constraints:

Ranking Criteria or Constraints Justification for Prioritization

1 Air pollution is making people sick, causing birth defects Human health takes priority.
and lung problems.

2 Air pollutants damage vegetation and crop yields. Human health takes top priority.
3 Air pollution is the greatest contributor to climate change Human health takes top priority.
and global warming.

4 A project of such magnitude would require cooperation of As long as significant awareness is

governments and citizens. raised, efforts can be taken to help.

5 Regulating the energy consumption of a country can be Safety and sustainability should come
inconvenient, difficult, and expensive. before money and convenience.

6 The efficiency of fossil fuels and the world’s reliance on it Safety and sustainability should come
makes it difficult for countries to quit fossil fuel usage. before money and convenience.

Strengths and Weaknesses and Barriers of Solutions

Solution Strength Weakness Barrier

Air pollution can be improved
by garnering support to
switch to alternate means of
energy.
There are studies and Air pollution is primarily a
air pollution specialists result of burning fossil fuels.
who can act as America and other countries
experts. are reliant on burning fossil
fuels.
The barrier is getting people to
support the switch to alternative
energy.

Conservation and restoration
of coral reefs, forests, and
other plant life can help
counteract the carbon dioxide
produced by humans.
There are conservation Nature reserves cannot The barrier is protecting a large
laws and reserves for protect the plant life and enough number of plants in order to
flora. aquatic plants that are not in counteract air pollution.
the reserve.

Optimal Solution
Of the two solutions selected, reducing pesticide use will have the most significant effect on water
pollution. Much of the pollution in today's waters is related to unwanted chemicals that change the
acidity levels of water, killing lake and marine life. Reducing these chemicals and finding new and
safer ways of disposing of these toxins prevent further damage to water ecosystems and sources of
clean drinking water.

I believe that while using an alternative form of energy such as nuclear power, hydro power, or
solar would provide great benefits, trying to change the energy source of an entire country is a
very ambitious project that would rely on many factors to work. Creating more nature reserves
to counteract air pollution is a much more achievable and foreseeable goal, and would require
less assistance to complete.

Creating nature reserves is a step that one country could take without disturbing the regular
function or upheaval of energy companies.
“Air Quality.” Nuclear Energy Institute, www.nei.org/advantages/air-quality. Accessed 15
June 2023.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. “Reducing Emissions of Hazardous Air

Pollutants.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Jan. 2021,
www.epa.gov/haps/reducing-emissions-hazardous-air-pollutants#:~:text=These%20steps
%20include%3A%20reducing%20toxic,air%20pollution%20though%20voluntary
%20programs.