The Asian Brown Cloud (Core Case Study) is a striking example
of how bad air pollution can get. It results from large and dense
populations of people relying mostly on fossil fuels (especially
coal) for their energy, and wasting too many resources, rather
than recycling and reusing products. It is an example of what can
happen when people violate all four scientific principles of sustainability
(see back cover) on a massive scale.
However, we can use these four principles to help reduce air
pollution. We can reduce inputs of conventional air pollutants
into the atmosphere by relying more on direct and indirect forms
of solar energy than on fossils fuels; reducing the waste of matter
and energy resources and recycling and reusing matter resources;
mimicking biodiversity by using a diversity of nonpolluting or lowpolluting
renewable energy resources; and reducing human population
growth and wasteful resource consumption.
A key strategy for solving air pollution problems is to focus on
preventing or sharply reducing outdoor and indoor air pollution at
global, regional, national, local, and individual levels. Each of us
has an important role to play in protecting the atmosphere that
sustains life and supports our economies.