GLENDALE, Arizona — The Clean Air Task Force dedicated 26 years to reducing air pollution through clean energy, energy replacements and removing super pollutants from the air. The process could help those in poverty as green energy could be more affordable than using gas and oil.
The History of the Clean Air Task Force
The Clean Air Task Force started in 1996 with a focus on reducing emission rates from coal power plants on the federal level in the United States. However, the Clean Air Task Force has realigned its mission to a global scale. It has been a partner of the Climate & Clean Air Coalition since 2012. The task force has been working to relieve air pollution through public advocacy leadership, partnership, research and analysis.
Current Plans with The Clean Air Task Force
The Clean Air Task Force designed the Global Methane Pledge, which EU President Ursula von der Leyen and President Joe Biden introduced and discussed. The pledge has 111 countries on board, which jointly are aiming to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 to 2030. It also has plans to expand into the Middle East and North Africa and increase its presence in Asia and South America by helping with fuels containing zero-carbon.
The Global Methane Pledge
The Global Methane Pledge also plans to expand into countries that have agreed to the pledge and help them meet their agreement. Part of the goal of The Global Methane Pledge is also to prevent 8 gigatons of methane emissions annually by 2030 and onward. The commitments are voluntary, but the removal of a large amount of methane could help reduce air pollution around the world.
How Reducing Air Pollution Could Reduce Poverty
One of the Clean Air Task Force’s plans for reducing air pollution is through carbon fuel substitutes including hydrogen and ammonia instead of natural gas and oil. The plans can reduce air pollutants and the price of fuel, which is essential for a sufficient fuel economy and benefits citizens from households to businesses. Experts believe green hydrogen is to become cheaper than natural gas by 2050, which can be beneficial to reducing carbon emissions and having a safe environment. Vehicle growth also continues as an economy grows, which limiting future fuel consumption with alternatives can be a cheaper alternative.
Carbon and methane emissions from burning fossil fuels can damage not just one person’s health, but an entire country’s wellbeing and safety of workers. The Public Health of England displays how methane appears in everyday household activities like cooking and heating, while also coming from waste disposal sites and animal waste. While the general public has very low levels of methane within the atmosphere from gas appliances, machines, cars or factories, exposure to methane can reduce the amount of available oxygen breathed in. Since oxygen is necessary for humans, methane gas can be very dangerous for human and animal health.
Looking Ahead
With the Global Methane Pledge, relieving air pollution by removing 8 gigatons of methane could drastically increase the health of citizens, especially those who must live in dangerous and often dirty conditions. A study from Harvard identified that even low amounts of air pollution can harm the health of a population. People affected with respiratory complications similar to asthma are at risk of future health issues when exposed to air pollution.
The Global Air Task Force is making a step in the right direction with the introduction of relieving air pollution and becoming global leaders in the fight against methane gas. The introduction of policies and countries following through with their agreements can benefit the world’s fuel economy and air quality with a pledge.
– Kyle Swingle
Photo: Flickr