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  • Essay / The serious problem of air pollution in Saudi Arabia and solutions to the environmental problem

    Air pollution could be defined as any substance that has the potential to harm the environment and living beings. Air pollution can be classified as visible and invisible. We can divide air pollution into two types, primary air pollutants and secondary pollutants (Miller). The damage caused by air pollution varies from place to place, depending on climate, social factors and geography. For example, the air pollution problem in Beijing differs from that in Los Angeles due to regional factors specific to the two locations. In Saudi Arabia, the problem of air pollution is unique in the sense that it is caused by the massive automobile industry and efforts to solve the problem must also take into account cultural and geographical differences in order to solve this problem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay According to the United States National Park Service, which takes care of special places such as national parks, historic places, and open spaces, has defined the different types of pollution on their website stating that pollutants primary sources of pollution; while secondary pollutants are chemical changes in the atmosphere, which are produced by primary pollutant sources (National Park Service). The source shows that pollution causes and develops other problems. An example of indoor pollutants is cooking and, in contrast, biomass heating, outdoors, is the inefficient combustion of fuels for transportation and electricity generation (WHO). Motor vehicles have caused many problems to humans and the environment. In my country, Saudi Arabia, there is only one main means of transportation: the car. The automobile is the most important means of transport in Saudi Arabia as public transport is not recommended. Many people prefer to maintain privacy in individual vehicles, and the heat makes public transportation uncomfortable. For many years in Saudi Arabia, there has been a widespread belief that public transport is only safe for men. Additionally, legally, women are not allowed to be in public without a guardian with them. As a result, the automobile also contributes significantly to air pollution, as it is the main source of transportation. Much of the Arabian Desert is located in Saudi Arabia, which has a hot climate. People tend to have larger vehicles, such as Land Cruisers and Jeeps, to withstand harsh climates and weather changes. Larger vehicles consume more gasoline and pollute three to five times more than cars (“EPA”). Additionally, in the Kingdom, people have larger families that all have to fit into one or two vehicles because women do not drive. Additionally, gasoline is extremely cheap, so vehicles generally considered "gas guzzlers" are acceptable in Saudi Arabia. In this case study, we will examine the problems, causes and possible solutions regarding air pollution caused by motor vehicles in Saudi Arabia. In many Saudi cities, motor vehicles cause extreme smog. Smog affects overall air quality. In Saudi Arabia, problems related to motor vehicles are only amplified due to their excessive use. In cities likeRiyadh, smog is only amplified due to harsh conditions. According to Julia Vergin's article "10 Worst Cities for Smog", she places Riyadh on this list stating: "Sandstorms, like here in Riyadh, can contribute to the formation of smog because they increase the amount of particulate matter in the air. In a place like Saudi Arabia, intense ultraviolet rays also transform emissions from transportation and industry into ozone” (Vergin). Thus, in these difficult conditions, the use of transport vehicles has only amplified this problem. In Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey, Abbey tells the story of a man who invested money in the land in an attempt to become rich for his future. Although the story is very interesting, the important aspect of this story comes with the point that Abbey is trying to make. With the excessive use of land and the money that can be made from it, instead of producing beneficial things from the land, it only brings destruction to those who abuse it. The situation is similar in the sense that in Saudi Arabia, overuse of vehicles due to low gasoline prices will only cripple the environment. In American cities, which aren't even on the list, the smog problem is not made worse by the weather. Instead, American cities only face smog caused by motor vehicles. Not driving is the solution; however, this solution is not practical and would not be followed. In Saudi Arabia, many people work in different cities up to two hours away from home. According to the Christian Science Monitor, “Here, where gasoline is about three times cheaper than the water most Saudis drink, huge Lincoln Continentals and Cadillacs sell well. Saudi Arabia represents one of the few lucrative markets for American-made luxury cars” (CSM). Driving to work is easy because gasoline is extremely cheap and the roads between towns are clear of traffic. Imagine, a clear majority of people do this daily, and how the already horrible pollution would only get worse. While in other parts of the world the price of gasoline fluctuates greatly depending on economic trends, in Saudi Arabia it remains low because Saudi Arabia is the main producer of gasoline; whereas in the United States, the price of gasoline is much higher because companies must first buy gasoline and then resell it. Additionally, in Saudi Arabia, only a few cities spread across the country are tourist sites. This means that if one wants to travel to experience more fun things outside of their city, one needs to drive seriously. The logical way to reduce emissions is to rely on many sources other than cars. In other parts of the world, we would recognize the value of using public transport, cycling and walking wherever possible. However, in Saudi Arabia, carpooling or using public transportation is discouraged. Families generally do not leave their wives alone on buses and therefore prefer to take them in their own car. Given the structure of families and social customs, the car has become the predominant means of transportation. Weather conditions make it difficult to use any means of transportation other than a refrigerated vehicle. Given the region's hot and arid climate, the problem of air pollution is compounded because the environment in this region is already fragile due to weather conditions. When fewer cars are on the road, emissions would be lower, resulting in a,.