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TIANMUN 2018 Environment Commission –

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Chinese Citizens in Beijing

FORUM: Environment Commission

ISSUE: Measures to Resolve Air Pollution Caused by

Factory Emissions

STUDENT OFFICER: DongEun Lee

POSITION: Deputy President of Environment Commission

Introduction

The more factories there are, the more pollution there is. Humans build factories for our good

such as efficient manufacturing of products and expanded workplace. But can we really build

factories by merely looking at its benefits? It rather has more harmful aspects than beneficial aspects.

Air pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals or compounds in the air, at levels that

pose a health risk. It may also be defined as the presence of chemicals or compounds that are not

usually present and which can lower the quality of air or cause detrimental changes to the quality of

life. There are several factors that cause this to happen – man-made and naturally made. There are

man-made factors such as the gas emitted from factories and there are also naturally made factors

such as dust blown from nearby deserts. However, we humans cause the majority of air pollution that

occurs on this planet and contributes to global pollution rather than local pollution.

Background Air pollution leaves and will continue to

leave distinct marks on Earth. China is one of the

countries that have gone through the detrimental

effects of air pollution. Air pollution is more

common and severe in the northern part than the

southern part of China. According to the National

Academy of Sciences of the United States of

America, the concentration of TSPs (Trisodium Phosphate, 𝑁𝑎#𝑃𝑂# ) – a chemical compound used

in household bleach and stain removers – is higher in the northern part by 55% than the southern

part. This indicates that life expectancies in the north are approximately 5.5 years lower in places

that have severe air pollutions. Another place air pollution left a footstep is in India. The main


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Air pollution may lead to severe storms.

reasons for such severe pollution are coal-powered plants, frequent use of transportation and

inefficient use of energy in buildings. According to the World Health Organization, the particles of

chemical compounds found in Indian cities are way smaller than the ones usually found. Normal

ones have PM 10, which means 10 microns in diameter whereas the ones in India have PM 2.5,

which is four times smaller than the particles with PM 10. The smaller the particle, the longer it can

linger in the air and the deeper it can penetrate through one’s lungs.

Problems Raised Health Issues Health problems always go with air pollution, they are inseparable. The air in the atmosphere

is very crucial to the well-being of humans. Carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases lead

to more frequent and intense heat waves that may increase human mortality – especially the elderly

and the poor. Other than carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air may also

cause asthma and other respiratory problems. Moreover, ozone (unstable toxic gas, created by the

relations of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight) can

aggravate lung diseases, permanent damage to lungs and even premature death.

Climate Change Air pollution not only causes health issues

but also cause a dramatic change to the Earth’s

climate. Carbon pollution and the climate change

caused by air pollution have led to more hurricane

and storms, frequent and heavier flooding, increased

drought, and more harsh wildfires. There are also

more caused by air pollution – ocean acidification,

sea level rise, etc.

Humans use fossil fuels every day. Whether it’s used for electricity, heat used in our homes

during the winter, and oil used in public transportation, we all use fossil fuel in a different kind of

form. However, the extraction and burning of these fossil fuels include the process of emitting

carbon dioxide to the air. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not only the main player of air pollution, but also

the main source of climate change.


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Delhi Government Adds More Public Transport

International Actions Issuing Fines for Pollution Violation China, one of the main players in air pollution, has promised zero tolerance for firms

violating environmental violations, which includes air pollution. The Chinese Environment Ministry

accused firms violating regulations a total 1.02 billion Yuan ($154 million) in the first 10 months of

2017. As the Chinese MEP (Ministry of Environmental Protection) realized that cases of violating

these environmental were increasing, the country decided to increase the fines by 48 percent.

In Europe, the United Kingdom has faced a public health emergency due to high levels of air

pollution. Due to these high levels of pollution, the country is at the risk of paying multi-millions of

euros according to the European Court of Justice. Not only the UK, but several other countries of

Europe have also received warnings to regulate their air quality standards. If they fail to enhance

their air quality, they will automatically need to pay a huge number of fines.

Promoting the Use of Public Transportation Many cities in the world are dealing with the increasing usage of private cars. Private cars not

only emit large amounts of toxic gas, but also cause noise pollution in the presence of traffic jam.

Singapore, a small Asian city-state country, suffered greatly from increasing private car numbers.

Recently, they have made limits on the number of cars the citizens can own. The country has made

limits with making license permits as well as license plates. Singapore’s population is 5.6 million

while its private car number stays approximately 600,000.

New Delhi – one of the most air

polluted cities in the world – has recently

decided to allow cars depending whether its

license plate ended in an even or an odd

number. In addition, they have added more

public transportation to make sure the citizens

whose cars were restricted on a particular day.

The government is encouraging New Delhi

citizens to use public transport than private

cars.

Key Players


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India's Air Pollution Rivals China’s as World’s deadliest

China China and air pollution are inseparable since China has been one of the top countries with the

highest levels of air pollution. With less than ten percent among 360 cities meeting national air

quality standards, it is reported that approximately thousands and thousands of people die in China

due to air pollution. China’s air pollutants have also affected nearby countries such as Japan and

South Korea. According to The Korea Herald, large number of fireworks used in China for its Spring

Festival has raised the fine dust level. With further research, it has also been proven that the fine

dusts from China travel long distances to reach the Korea Peninsula.

Although the country is notorious for its polluted air, the country is in its progress of cutting

down the air pollution. Since the ruling political party in China is the CCP (Chinese Communist

Party), the country is in ease with controlling air pollution. When Chinese citizens fail to regulate air

pollution in factories or coal plants, they will face harsh punishments or a considerable number of

fines from the government.

India With approximately 1.3 billion population,

eleven out of the twelve most polluted cities in the

world is in India. The source of the pollution comes

from the burning of coal, wood for cooking, dust

storms, and forest fires. India’s hills and mountains act

as basins that trap toxic air, making the air very

dangerous to breathe. Another factor making India one

of the most polluted countries in the world is poor

governance. The government is lacking enforcement

of standards for car exhausts, crop burning, and regulations of dust from construction sites. While

China has made some noticeable progress in regulating air pollution, India’s government is still

struggling with governing air pollution.

World Health Organization (WHO) Partnered with the United Nations and with more than 7000 people working in 150 countries,

the World Health Organization is one of the organizations that is deeply in concern with the issue of

air pollution. The WHO is planning to open a global conference between October 30th, 2018 and

November 1st , 2018. They are planning to discuss the harmful issues air pollution evokes and how


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Turning off lights that are not in use can conserve energy.

air pollution causes the acceleration of climate change. The organization has been constantly active,

leading campaigns such as BreatheLife and creating global air pollution maps and databases.

Possible Solutions Encouraging Citizens to Conserve Energy Although it may be a weaker solution than others, it is also the best solution to solve this

issue. People can start conserving energy by turning off lights that are not in use and using energy

efficient light bulbs. People can also limit driving by carpooling, using public transportation, biking

and walking. For drivers, do regular car

checkups, keep car tires properly inflated and

buy energy efficient vehicles. For people in

general, use both sides of paper, use a fan

instead of an AC, wear layers of clothes

instead of turning on heat, avoid plastic bags,

quit smoking, reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Although these ways all seem unrelated to

reducing air pollution, they are actually related. Reducing waste means less air pollution since there

is less to burn down. Conserving electricity and oil mean less burning down of fossil fuels.

Government’s Effective and Stringent Policies Like China’s straightforward regulations mentioned before, the government’s effective and

strict policies related to air pollution might also be a solution to the world’s air pollution crisis. The

way the government deals with the pollution is actually more crucial than people think. The

government needs to give out guidelines to citizens who are willing to reduce air pollution. The

government also needs to legislate laws that inhibit factories and power plants from excessing air

quality standards. The more effective the policies are, the less air pollution there will be

Glossary Air Quality Index (AQI)


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A nationally uniform index used to indicate the quality of air. It is also used to report on the

four most common ambient air pollutants – ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide,

and sulfur dioxide. AQI is measured in numbers and ranging 1- 50 is classified as excellent, 51-100

classified moderate, 101-200 classified as unhealthy and 201- 500 is classified as hazardous. The

AQI system is a universal system where it can be applied to any countries in the world.

Carbon Dioxide A colorless greenhouse gas having an odor and a sour taste. Being a minor component of

Earth’s atmosphere, carbon dioxide is formed in the process of fermentation, daily respiration of

living beings and the photosynthesis of plants.

Ozone A colorless, odorless gas made up of three oxygen atoms. Naturally found in Earth’s

stratosphere (50km above the surface), chemical pollutants formed by daily activities on Earth react

with sunlight and form ozone. While ozone above the atmosphere is harm-free, ozone at ground level

is a harmful pollutant due to its hazardous effects on humans and the environment. It is also known

as one of the main ingredients of smog (fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric

pollutants).


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Sources “What Is Air Pollution?” Environmental Pollution Centers, Environmental Pollution Centers,

2017, www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/air/.

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“Air Pollution: Current and Future Challenges.” United States Environmental Protection Agency,

Environmental Protection Agency, 22 Mar. 2018, www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/air-

pollution-current-and-future-challenges.

Irfan, Umair. “Why India’s Air Pollution Is so Horrendous.” Vox, Vox Media, 9 June 2018,

www.vox.com/2018/5/8/17316978/india-pollution-levels-air-delhi.

McCarthy, Joe. “The UK May Have to Pay a Multimillion-Euro Fine for Air Pollution.” Global

Citizen, Global Poverty Project, 17 May 2018, www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/uk-faces-

fines-for-air-pollution/.

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Jo, HeRim. “China Contributed to High Fine Dust Level in Korea: Research.” The Korea Herald,

The Korea Herald by Herald Corporation, 21 Mar. 2018,

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“Carbon Dioxide.” Edited by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Jan. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/carbon-dioxide.

Mackenzie, Jillian. “Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.” NRDC, NRDC, 1 Nov.

2016, www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know.

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Stanway, David. “China Fines for Environmental Violations up 48 Percent from Jan-Oct: Ministry.”

Edited by Gareth Jones and Clelia Oziel, REUTERS, 6 Dec. 2017, www.reuters.com/article/us-

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ministry-idUSKBN1E0089.

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