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DCL
The Problem:
Many countries today are so engrossed with their own pollution problems, that they forget that it is not just their own pollution that they have to worry about, but the pollution from other countries. USA Today has reported that the US is currently becoming increasingly polluted by foreign toxins, such as mercury from China, dust from Africa, and smog from Mexico.
[i]USA Today[i] has also reported that by 2020, foreign pollution alone will account for the majority of air pollution in the national parks in the US. It would seem that while the US continues to spend billions of dollars working on its own pollution problem, this may only be canceled out by the increasing pollution of other countries.
What should we do?
How about taking the initiative to reduce the pollution in other countries for starters...
The 100 million two-stroke engines in Southeast Asia are currently producing a staggering level of pollution. The equivalent to some 5 billion automobiles it has been estimated. When you consider that there are only around 600 million motor vehicles on this entire green planet, this number becomes especially astounding.
One Such Solution:
While many companies are focusing their attention on the popular vehicle markets and improving gas economy and efficiency, Colorado-based Envirofit International (with support from the the Lemelson Foundation) has been working with business owners in Asia and helping them to install direct-injection retro-fit kits on their two-stroke engine motorcycles.
The new two-stroke technology cuts carbon emissions by as much as 75-90 percent, eliminating over 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is something the entire planet will benefit from. By 2010, they plan of having retrofitted over 3,000 two-stroke motorcycle taxi engines in Vigan, Philippines.
The Lesson:
We as a world tend to concentrate on our own pollution problems in our nation, rather than looking at things as a whole. That is like flying on an airplane where the first class passengers decide that they will not allow any passengers to smoke in first class. What is the logic here? They are in an enclosed tube and the smoke is going to go everywhere and effect everyone.
The good news here is that we are taking steps to help other nations curb their pollution monster. It won't be an easy process and it is going to take a lot of effort, but each step is getting us that much closer!
Do any of you know of other companies using this same initiative in their market focus?
Feel the need for sustainable speed? See what eco-engineers are doing to create super-charged but low-impact cars, bikes, and planes on Planet Green TV's Mean Green Machines.
