Question

1. Give two examples of price policies (taxes, fees) for pollution in the U.S.

Answer 1

From 1970 to 2012, the U.S. population increased by one-third and more than doubled the size of the U.S. economy. Given this development, the United States has made real progress against a number of contaminants, using a variety of anti-pollution policies.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, some key air pollutant emissions dropped substantially from 2007 to 2012; in fact, they dropped 730 million metric tons per year— a 12 percent reduction. This seems to suggest that progress has been made in reducing overall emissions of carbon dioxide in the United States, resulting in greenhouse gases.

A somewhat less stringent type of command-and-control regulation is known as a quality standard in which the government prescribes a particular emission level or emission rate for example, emissions by production unit for each controlled company. For example, sewage treatment plants in America are subject to monthly limits on demand for biochemical oxygen.

Special concern is diesel exhaust from the movement of goods— particularly trucks, trains and marine sources. The World Health Organization classifies exhaust from diesel engines as carcinogenic to humans, as well as to the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that diesel emissions are contributing to health problems, including premature mortality, aggravated heart and lung disease, and increased respiratory symptoms, especially for children, the elderly, outdoor workers and other sensitive people.