What's being Done??? | ||||||||||||||||||
| World - Wide Contribution To A Solution!! | ||||||||||||||||||
|
As acid rain is a global problem, and countries rarely suffer the full effects of the pollution they produce, international agreements have been reached to try to control it. In 1979, 34 European (including many Eastern European) and Northern American countries adopted the Convention and Resolution on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, which bound them to reduce air pollutant emissions by using the best available and economically feasible technology. However, it didn't have any specific targets. In 1983, after much pressure from West Germany and Scandinavia, 21 European countries made a commitment to reduce their Sulfur Dioxide emissions by 30 percent from the 1980 levels by 1993 - 12 of them reached this target by 1988. Britain did not sign this agreement, but declared an intention to reduce Sulfur Dioxide emissions by 30 percent by the late 1990s. However, the most important legislation was the 1988 EC Large Combustion Plants Directive, which says total EC emissions of Sulfur Dioxide must be reduced by 58 percent by 2003, and Nitric Oxide, and particulate emissions reduced by 40 percent by 1998, with each member state having different target levels to reach these overall levels. These agreements have taken many years to negotiate, but show that we can agree on pollution control measures, and reduction of acid rain is a real possibility. | |||||||||||||||||
| What can we do??? | ||||||||||||||||||
|
The best approach to acid rain is to reduce the amount of Nitric Oxides and Sulfur Dioxides being released into the atmosphere. Fitting a catalytic converter to a car can reduce the emissions of Nitric Oxides by up to 90 percent, but they are very expensive, and cause more carbon dioxide to be released, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Sulfur Dioxide emissions from power stations can be reduced before, during, or after combustion. If a fuel with a low sulphur content (such as North Sea gas or oil) is burned, not much sulphur dioxide will be formed. However, low sulphur fuels are more expensive because they are in greater demand, and although high-suphur fuels can be treated to reduce their sulphur content, this is very expensive. The Sulfur Dioxides created during combustion can be absorbed if an appropriate chemical (such as limestone) is present as the fuel burns. Once the fuel has been burned, the Sulfur Dioxide can be removed from the exhaust gases. Most systems spray a mixture of limestone and water onto the gases. This mixture reacts with the Sulfur Dioxide to form gypsum, a useful building material. Another option is not to burn fossil fuels, but to use alternative energy sources. All these methods for reducing acid gases are expensive, and have drawbacks, so laws have been passed to force businesses to use them. The best way to reduce them is not to use as much energy in the first place. As individuals, the following are contributions that we can make: -Turn off lights when you leave a room -If you have a car, don't use it for short journeys -Insulate your house properly -Basically, anything at all that uses less energy | |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
This page has been visited
|