Leading Change Report 1
Leading Change Report
The Impact of Greenhouse Gases and Global warming on Air Quality in California
, Leading Change Report 2
Leading Change
Topic: The Impact of Greenhouse Gases and Global warming on air quality in California
Why does this matter, evidence of the problem?
According to the American Lung Association of California fact sheet (n.d), the air quality that is
being experienced in the country is deplorable. Furthermore, a research done by the California
Air Resources Board found that 95% of Californians are residing in places where the air is
unhealthy and could pose a great risk on their health. Presently, roughly 1 out of each 3 days is
regarded unhygienic for ozone contamination in areas like; the San Joaquin Valley and the South
Coast Air.
Regretfully, global warming is expected to exacerbate pollution predicaments. The Environment
Emissions Gap Report made by the United Nations (2019, p. 21) contends that if countries
persist with the ongoing emission endeavors, emissions will surpass the targets stated in the Paris
Agreement. Moreover, global warming will overreach 2°C worldwide. Union of Concerned
Scientists (2008) also indicates that if greenhouse gases emissions continue at a low intensity to
increased intensity, temperatures are envisioned to increase from 4.7 to 10.5 degrees by the end
of the century. On the contrary, if the rates of emissions are lower, then the projected warming
would be kept at 3 to 5.6 degrees. As such, a significant impact of poor air quality due to climate
change includes; increased death rate (for instance, the heat wave that occurred in 2006 in
California caused 655 deaths and over 16,000 ER visits), cardio vascular disease, and respiratory
illness, reduced lung function growth rates in juveniles, and increased school absences as a result
of respiratory conditions such as asthma. In addition to this, air pollution makes chronic
conditions such as diabetes difficult to manage and contributes to increased rates of asthma, heart
attacks, valley fever, stroke, lung cancer, etc. California suffers 21,000 early deaths each year as
Leading Change Report
The Impact of Greenhouse Gases and Global warming on Air Quality in California
, Leading Change Report 2
Leading Change
Topic: The Impact of Greenhouse Gases and Global warming on air quality in California
Why does this matter, evidence of the problem?
According to the American Lung Association of California fact sheet (n.d), the air quality that is
being experienced in the country is deplorable. Furthermore, a research done by the California
Air Resources Board found that 95% of Californians are residing in places where the air is
unhealthy and could pose a great risk on their health. Presently, roughly 1 out of each 3 days is
regarded unhygienic for ozone contamination in areas like; the San Joaquin Valley and the South
Coast Air.
Regretfully, global warming is expected to exacerbate pollution predicaments. The Environment
Emissions Gap Report made by the United Nations (2019, p. 21) contends that if countries
persist with the ongoing emission endeavors, emissions will surpass the targets stated in the Paris
Agreement. Moreover, global warming will overreach 2°C worldwide. Union of Concerned
Scientists (2008) also indicates that if greenhouse gases emissions continue at a low intensity to
increased intensity, temperatures are envisioned to increase from 4.7 to 10.5 degrees by the end
of the century. On the contrary, if the rates of emissions are lower, then the projected warming
would be kept at 3 to 5.6 degrees. As such, a significant impact of poor air quality due to climate
change includes; increased death rate (for instance, the heat wave that occurred in 2006 in
California caused 655 deaths and over 16,000 ER visits), cardio vascular disease, and respiratory
illness, reduced lung function growth rates in juveniles, and increased school absences as a result
of respiratory conditions such as asthma. In addition to this, air pollution makes chronic
conditions such as diabetes difficult to manage and contributes to increased rates of asthma, heart
attacks, valley fever, stroke, lung cancer, etc. California suffers 21,000 early deaths each year as
