New York City Air Pollution Problem Essay

Introduction

New York City is an important business center in the world and provides leadership in various financial matters. Because of its uniqueness, the city is popular among tourists from all parts of the world. Despite being such a great city, however, New York just like other cities in the United States, faces numerous environmental challenges including air pollution, waste management, traffic, and noise. This paper discusses pertinent issues regarding air pollution in New York City.

Similar to other major cities in the world, New York is working hard to come up with lasting solutions to its air pollution problems. Lately, the city has been involved in sensitization programs to encourage residents to embrace the use of hybrid buses as well as city vehicles as a means of reducing emissions that pollute the air. This notwithstanding, the problem of air pollution still persists in New York.

Notably, the air pollution problem has been blamed for premature deaths of scores of people in New York. Usually, air pollution occurs when the sun meets with emissions from vehicles, factories, and other activities that involve the burning of fuel. As a result of the pollution, many New Yorkers are subjected to asthma and cancer besides other health challenges. Arguably, air pollution accounts for close to 6 percent of the deaths in New York every year.

Strategies for Promoting Positive Environmental Behavior in New York City

To a large extent, conservation programs in New York are designed to ensure that people turn away from activities that negatively affect the environment and pollute the air. As a result, organizations that care about the environment spend a considerable amount of time researching and discussing strategies that promote positive behavior (Monroe (2003).

Over the years, various strategies have been used to promote positive behavior in order to protect the environment. While some people have targeted specific groups with their campaign messages, others provide the target group with different types of information. In addition, some organizations have used different approaches to ensure that individuals and organizations are committed to saving the environment.

In its endeavors to promote positive behavior toward the environment, New York City has used specific messages to target specific groups. The city has also used various techniques to ensure that people are committed to protecting the environment. For success to be realized, however, the city has to ensure that the public is fully involved in efforts to save the environment. The two strategies are discussed in the following sections.

Directing Specific Messages to the Audiences in New York City

Using this approach, New York undertakes research in order to develop messages that are likely to ensure that residents do not pollute the air. The ultimate goal is to motivate New York residents toward desired objectives. Ordinarily, researchers take time to understand values and perceptions that compel the target audience to act in a certain way. In most cases, the values and perceptions of the target group are different from those of organizers (Hinds & Sparks, 2008).

For example, while organizers in New York may have a strong conviction about the use of bicycles or public transport rather than private cars while commuting to work, the target audience may have a different opinion altogether. Although the use of bicycles or public transport reduces emissions into the atmosphere, it is imperative for organizers to focus on the perception of New Yorkers. Campaign organizers should thus conduct extensive research to understand the values and perceptions of New Yorkers before channeling out any messages.

Through their messages, campaign organizers must constantly remind New York residents about the negative consequences of polluting the air. At the same time, it is important to enlighten New Yorkers on the benefits of avoiding actions that are unfriendly to the environment.

Building Commitment among Residents in New York City

Campaign organizers may also turn to the use of activities that persuade New York residents to be committed to conserving the environment. Using appropriate activities, organizers may be able to convince New Yorkers to behave responsibly toward the environment.

In general, people tend to respond positively to what leaders do and not necessarily what they say (Hinds & Sparks, 2008). It thus depends on organizers to back their words with actions. Saying one thing and doing another can be very discouraging and a clear demonstration of a lack of integrity among campaigners.

Arguably, it is common for people to ignore important warnings regarding environmental conservation because of beliefs that may be in conflict with what they are asked to do. In some cases, organizers may choose to use incentives in order to get rid of irresponsible behavior and motivate New Yorkers to be accountable for their actions.

Effect of Positive and Negative Consequences on Pro-Environmental Behavior

Both positive and negative consequences have a great impact on pro-environmental behavior. Normally, educating people about the positive consequences of pro-environmental behavior helps them to see the benefits of conserving the environment and motivates them to behave responsibly (Kollmus & Agyeman, 2002).

There are great rewards that accompany pro-environmental behavior. Among others, New York residents will be able to enjoy the benefits of a cool environment, and the effects of global warming will be drastically reduced. Similarly, negative behavior will affect the health of New Yorkers and enlightening them about the negative consequences will make them realize the importance of behaving appropriately.

Impact of Technological Advancements on the Environment in New York

Technological advancements have both positive and negative impacts on New York City. To a large extent, however, advancements in technology have been blamed for mass destruction of the environment witnessed in New York and many other parts of the world (Monroe, 2003). Industrial operations in New York, for example, are associated with the emission of heavy gases that pollute the air.

This is coupled with the fact that industrialization leads to the eradication of natural features so as to create space for industrial activities or provide the necessary raw materials. Natural features such as forests and mountains are thus made to disappear in the process.

One positive impact of technological advancements on the environment in New York is the ability to provide communication options that are friendly to the environment. While New Yorkers had to depend so much on print technology to communicate in the olden days, this has changed since the onset of the Internet. Through the Internet, New York residents are able to communicate and share information without using paper. Certainly, this minimizes the need to cut down trees for manufacturing paper.

The negative impact of technological advancements on New York City can be summed up under what is today commonly known as global warming. Global warming is the result of heavy industrial activities and irresponsible human behavior. A good example is what has happened to weather patterns in New York and other places in the world.

While it was easy for farmers to predict the weather before, it is now almost impossible all because of global warming and climate change. Although technology may be used to help predict weather patterns, it has generally not worked well in most places across the world.

Influence of Environmental Policies in New York

Environmental policies play a big role in ensuring that citizens respect the environment and avoid activities that may have a negative impact. Generally, having strict environmental regulations compels individuals as well as organizations to be careful about what they do (Schulz, 2001).

Through stringent environmental policies, New York has been able to control the behavior of its residents and to deal with the menace of air pollution. However, environmental policies in New York also affect other areas such as international relationships and cross border business engagements.

Conclusion

Clearly, air pollution in New York is a serious concern with serious negative consequences. Problems associated with air pollution include global warming, diseases, and many others. Stakeholders in New York must thus actively engage with New Yorkers and provide guidelines on environmental conservation.

In order to get New Yorkers to respond positively, however, it is necessary for campaigners to lead by example. As explained in this paper, people are impacted more by the actions of their leaders and not by what the leaders say. Consequently, leaders in New York must accompany what they say by actions. Commitment by New York leaders to make a difference is what will lead to greater transformation.

References

Hinds, J. & Sparks, P. (2008). Engaging with the Natural Environment: The Role of Affective Connection and Identity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28(2), 109 – 120.

Kollmus, A. & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the Gap: Why do People Act Environmentally and what are the Barriers to Pro-environmental Behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239 – 260.

Monroe, M. C. (2003). Two Avenues for Encouraging Conservation Behaviors. Human Ecology Review, 10(2), 113 – 125.

Schulz, P. W. (2001). The Structure of Environmental Concern: Concern for Self, other People, and the Biosphere. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(4), 327 – 339.