Dangerous Levels of Air Pollution|Summary
Most OECD countries must prepare a report on the state of the environment within the country on a regular basis. The reports’ data states that air pollution has become a visible and a very serious health problem, which is closely connected with the soot, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide production, which is the result of combustion, or with the traffic fumes producing toxic substances and smog. According to the report prepared by the State of Air Quality in New Zealand (2015), particles and gases, which have negative effect on the health of the population, ‘can cause a range of effects on human health, from minor irritation through to significant disease and shortening of life’ (State of Air Quality in New Zealand 2015, p.12).
‘The CO2 record from Baring Head comprises the longest continuous record of CO2 concentrations in the Southern Hemisphere. CO2 is a well-mixed gas in the atmosphere’; so far, the concentration in New Zealand atmosphere is similar (An Assessment of the Current State of Scientific Knowledge by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, 2013).
Among the threats to the human health are
· carbon dioxide,
· nitrogen oxides,
· seaspray salt,
· sulphur dioxide,
· windblown soil, etc.
The size of these small patterns (also known as Particular Matter or PM) varies. PM10 and PM2,5 have diameter less than 10 and 2,5 microns accordingly.
According to the data prepared by David Lee-Jones (2015), ‘New Zealand’s annual total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rose 21% from 1990 to 2013 (from 66.7 million tons CO2 equivalent to 81 million tons)’ (Lee-Jones 2015, p.2):
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Pic.1. New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Emission based on Kyoto Protocol. Source: New Zealand Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report 2013 (published in April 2015)
Significant Water Pollution (Specific to New Zealand)
Fenemor A., Neilan D. et all (2011) recognize that ‘New Zealand is seeing growing evidence of stresses on its freshwater resources as land uses intensify and demands for water, especially for irrigation, reach limits of availability’ (Fenemor, Neilan et all., 2011, p.10). Among the most dangerous water pollutants are nutrients, pathogens and sediment. All of them get into water with the urine from livestock, forest clearance, soil, groundwaters, erosion, loss of vegetation, etc. The interesting matter is that in order to minimize the damage from erosion and loss of soil, which results from the flooding rivers, New Zealanders have chosen ‘water managers’ who are responsible for managing soil and water. However, water pollution issues remain out of their sight.
Climate Changes: Specific Areas of High Environmental Risk
There has been a gradual climate change in New Zealand. The change is not just a cyclical climate change; it is something more serious. Emissions of greenhouse gas can be considered to be one of its main reasons for the change in flora and fauna within the territory, occupied by both Mäori and non-Mäori. The expected temperature change stands for the average temperature increase of 0.9 degrees C by 2040 and 2,1 degrees C by 2090 (An Assessment of the Current State of Scientific Knowledge by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, 2013).
Precipitation Changes Have Occurred
According to the Assessment of the Current State of Scientific Knowledge by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor dated from 2013, there is little change in the precipitation mean for all New Zealand, but in large geographical variation.
More Extreme Weather Events
Temperature changes and precipitation changes are as significant as the changes in wind patterns and the chemistry of the oceans. There are definitely differences between the northern and the southern parts of the country, which can be easily explained by the unequal seasonal patterns of precipitations, temperature changes and other extreme weather events.
Critical Risks by Region
The regions in New Zealand are divided into two main regions: North Island, which include the areas of Northland, Aukland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Whanganui-Manawatu, and Wellington and the South Island, which are Marborough, Nelson-Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland (Ministry of Business, Immigration, and Employment, 2017). Risks due to climate change are thought to affect the island overall, except for slight variations in temperature increases and precipitation. In the Northern Island, temperature increases will be most in the mountains in the summer, while in the Southern Island, precipitation increases might be felt most on the West Coast and areas of Canterbury. Strong winds are projected to become a larger concern on the South Island (NIWA, 2017).
In terms of ecosystems, including agricultural and coastal regions throughout both islands, there are concerns regarding extreme weather. Flooding can lead to salinisation of farmable soil. High temperatures can threaten crops. Drought can threaten water supplies. On the coast, mangrove ecosystems will be threatened, the coral reefs will experience bleaching, and coastlines will experience higher erosion rates (Woodward, Hales, & de Wet, 2017).
Stastistics for Illnesses and Death Due to Climate Changes: Regional Concerns
Extreme weather conditions, such as droughts, flooding, and cyclones, are concerns for the entire country in terms of threat to life, food supply, and potable water supply. Increased temperatures can exacerbate the effects of pollution and respiratory distress, especially in the elderly and in regions that are known for hot summers, such as Auckland. The west coast of both the North and South Islands might experience unusually heavy rainfall, which can result in deaths due to flooding. Ozone depletion contributes to skin cancer in both regions, and New Zealand’s skin cancer rates are already among the highest in the world. The most northern tip of the Northern Island is also an area of concern for increased incident of diseases such as the mosquito-borne illness dengue fever (Woodward, Hales, & de Wet, 2001).
Environmental Initiatives, Policies, and Investment
Environmental Initiatives
According to OECD (2013), there are several environmental initiatives and policies:
· initial legislative background,
· the growth and innovation framework,
· the Government’s package of sustainability initiatives (OECD 2013, p.8-9).
Besides these initiatives, the government of New Zealand takes care of research and development programs, which are either supported by the government or financed by some commercial institutions. OECD (2013) provides a detailed list of local initiatives, among which are:
· The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology,
· Sustainable Business Initiatives,
· The Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc) and
· Several local initiatives on green R&D (Target Sustainability, Cleaner Production, etc.)
· Verification of Technologies, etc. (OECD 2013, p.10-11).
Above all of that, the government of New Zealand has worked at MEPS (which stands for Minimum Energy Performance Standards), drafted and implemented a series of regulations of energy efficiency, prepared National Environmental Standards, formulated the Waste Strategy of New Zealand, etc.
Conclusion
The government of New Zealand supports many initiatives; it engages all the member of society in various environmental protection activities, because responsible partnership is one of the best ways to set and to follow the right directions. To build an innovative and healthy New Zealand, it requires to invest in the future, in children and their development and education.
References
Fenemor, A., Neilan, D., Allen, W., Russel, Sh. (2011). Improving Water Governance in New Zealand: Stakeholder Views of Catchment Management Processes and Plans. Policy Quarterly. Volume 7, Issue 4, November 2011. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/14466976/Water_Governance_in_New_Zealand
Lee-Jones, D. (2015). New Zealand Climate and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy. Retrieved from https://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/New%20Zealand%20Climate%20and%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions%20Policy_Wellington_New%20Zealand_7-6-2015.pdf
Ministry of Business, Immigration, and Employment. (2017). Our regions and cities. Retrieved from https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/regions-nz
Woodward, A., Hales, S., & de Wet, N. (2001). Climate Change: Potential Effects on Human Health in New Zealand. Ministry of Climate Change. Wellington, N. Z.: Ministry for the Environment
New Zealand’s Changing Climate and Oceans: The Impact of Human Activity and Implications for the Future: An Assessment of the Current State of Scientific Knowledge by the Office of the Chief Science Advisor. July 2013. Retrieved from http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/New-Zealands-Changing-Climate-and-Oceans-report.pdf
NIWA. (2016). Climate change scenarios for New Zealand. Retrieved from https://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/climate/information-and-resources/clivar/scenarios
OECD (2008), “Eco-Innovation Policies in New Zealand”, Environment Directorate, OECD. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/newzealand/42876990.pdf
The State of Air Quality in New Zealand (2015). Commentary by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on the 2014 Air Domain Report. Retrieved from http://www.pce.parliament.nz/media/1256/the-state-of-air-quality-in-new-zealand-web5.pdf
