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Part III

Name

Institution

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Part III

The debate on air pollution is heating up, especially between individual stakeholders.

Most of these stakeholders consider air pollution a pressing issue given the amount of

greenhouse gas emissions being experienced today as well as emissions from other industrial

and commercial infrastructure. Most of the governmental and nongovernmental agencies

agree that the increase in air pollution can be tracked to the increase in emissions from the

transportation sector, which, as per records, shows increased ozone pollution (City of New

York, 2024). The public also agrees that there are various health issues that are related to air

pollution, and some have turned fatal across communities. Most of these health issues include

respiratory diseases as well as cardiovascular health issues. In New York City, the stakeholders

involved consider air pollution a key issue that should be addressed through effective climate-

focused strategies (Varghese, 2022). The government supports the idea that air pollution is a

threat that needs immediate and effective response (Bhatia et al., 2023). Most of these

stakeholders debate that the transportation sector is among the dominant contributors to air

pollution through emissions. The government, as a key stakeholder, has considered improving

and modernizing the actor through technology and other power sources that can be able to

reduce emissions and thus improve air quality in New York (City of New York, 2024). There are

various issues that have dominated the discussion of air pollution in New York. Among these

issues have been the causes of air pollution. Many New Yorkers don't seem to agree with one

another about the major causes of air pollution in the city. For some, the transportation sector

is the major contributor to the issue that affects air quality in the city. For a long time, the
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public as well as the media have been critical of reducing air pollution by considering the

various causes and laying effective strategies to manage it.

Another dominant issue that has been discussed in regard to air pollution in New York is

the effects of poor air quality, especially on health. In regard to this, many of the stakeholders

involved in curbing air pollution in the city argue that air pollution is among the major crises

facing the city. They all agree that besides the major health effects that result from air

pollution, there are many issues that result from the same, such as the wellbeing of citizens.

Another key and dominant issue is the various solutions and strategies that can be

implemented to reduce air pollution (Bhatia et al., 2023). Under this, the argument is that air

pollution can be fatal through the implementation of strategies prompted by all stakeholders.

The discussion considers the involvement of all stakeholders to be a critical measure in

improving air quality in the city. Providing potential solutions to improve air quality is thus a

dominant issue that many of the stakeholders, including the public have been asking for in the

past few years (City of New York, 2024). Another key issue of discussion is the specific health

implications that come with air pollution. Almost everyone involved in the discussion of air

pollution questions about the health implications of the same. Many agencies have specifically

invested in finding the specific health implications associated with air pollution. For many, there

are a wide range of diseases that can be directly associated with air pollution in the city.

There are various prominent options that have been proposed for reducing air pollution.

Among these options was one made by Governor Kathy Hochul, where fossil fuel automobiles

were to be banned in the city by 2030 to make it EV-friendly (City of New York, 2024). The

proposal has also focused on improving the overall infrastructure in the city. Together with the
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department of transportation and other key stakeholders in the institution, the proposal also

covers educating people on the significance of quality air as well as the importance of

protecting the environment. The government's proposal has also been boosted by other

specific laws that are meant to enable the reduction of air pollution by banning the use of fossil

fuel automobiles in the city Bhatia et al., 2023). There are other laws that, through the

proposal, have been made to ensure that the city is accessible and safe, even with the ban on

these automobiles. These are the laws associated with cycling. After it was announced that

there was to be a ban on fossil fuel automobiles, the public took action, and the city

experienced a steady rise in cycling. Through the improvement of infrastructure, education for

the people, and the introduction and amendment of cycling laws, the city has been able to

construct bike lanes for cyclists and ensure the connection and accessibility of services and

facilities (Varghese, 2022). Through such biking laws, it has made cycling around safer and way

easier. Another option that has been proposed by key stakeholders in the city is the

introduction of a congestion fee. The New York City government introduced the law, the first of

its kind in the country, to mainly tackle air pollution. In the proposal, this policy was introduced

as a way to discourage motor vehicles across the city. Through the proposal, it was also

considered that the money gained from the congestion fees was to be utilized in the

maintenance and improvement of the expensive transport network in the city (City of New

York, 2024). Though it is a well-thought-out plan and proposal, many residents have been seen

to oppose it, mainly because they are skeptical about the motives behind the collection of the

fees.
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The option that is most preferable to the majority of the stakeholders is the ban on

fossil fuel automobiles as a means to make the city EV-friendly. This is mainly because the

proposal has key resolutions for connections and accessibility across the city. The proposal is

settling well with most of the stakeholders since it not only aims at addressing the issue but also

initiates a mitigation plan for one of the main causes of pollution in New York (Varghese, 2022).

Through this, most stakeholders consider that the transport system will be reformed through

better and more affordable means while at the same time reducing air pollution significantly.

The proposal is also highly considerate of all stakeholders involved since it proposes

collaboration between the transport sector, various stakeholders involved in the management

of air pollution, as well as the NY police department (Bhatia et al., 2023). It is also critical for

most of these stakeholders since it involves the improvement of all infrastructure,

amendments, and the introduction of laws and policies that can help reduce air pollution, as

well as educating the public on the causes, effects, and solutions to air pollution (City of New

York, 2024). Though the proposal does not hold the government accountable for the

management and reduction of air pollution, it considers it a key stakeholder in delivering

effective solutions and resources towards the same. The proposal considered the involvement

of the transportation sector as well as the police department, among other key departments, to

be critical towards the contribution of resources to improve infrastructure, amend and

introduce laws, and educate the public about air pollution. It also considers the government as

the ultimate decision-maker regarding policies and laws associated with reducing air pollution.

Though the proposal covers the effects of air pollution in general, it does not dwell on

the specific disparate impacts of the issue on specific groups. However, it discusses the huge
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impacts in terms of health and wellbeing as well as reduced air quality, which is a threat to

human existence. Not only can the proposal be implemented, but there are also specific signs

that show a strong foundation for the implementation of the proposed solution in the city's

system (Varghese, 2022). The proposal can be extensively implemented across the city since it

engages all stakeholders to work on the reduction of air pollution. The introduction of the

proposal can be implemented through collaboration between various stakeholders, such as the

Department of Transportation, involved institutions, and the NY Police Department, which are

quite resourceful (City of New York, 2024). Through this collaboration, it will be possible to

educate the public, introduce and amend specific laws, as well as improve the overall city's

infrastructure to ensure its success. The implementation of this proposal, though subject to

political discussions, is considerate of every aspect and concern associated with air pollution. In

implementing the proposal, there are various challenges that decision-makers may encounter,

especially when dealing with the improvement of outcomes and other specific shortcomings

(Bhatia et al., 2023). Among these challenges is the involvement of political parties tied to the

proposal. The discussion of air pollution, just like any other issue associated with climate, is

subject to extensive politics. Political debates and opinions widely shape and influence the

implementation of these proposals and policies. The public pressure for change is also a

common challenge, mainly because air pollution is a critical issue that touches the public due to

health issues and the quality of air.

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References

Bhatia, A., Katz, J., and Sanger-Katz, M. (2023). Just How Bad Was the Pollution in New York?

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/06/08/upshot/new-york-city-smoke.html

City of New York. 2024. Outdoor Air Quality. https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-

topics/air-quality-air-pollution-protection.page#:~:text=Reduce%20Air
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%20Pollution&text=Reduce%20energy%20use%20at%20home,and%20walk%20to

%20get%20around.

Varghese, R. (2022). Air Pollution in NYC: Causes, Effects, and Solutions. https://earth.org/air-

pollution-in-nyc/