Persuasive Speech on Clean Air

This persuasive speech discusses the causes and effects of air pollution and emphasizes the importance of investing in things that promote clean air. It provides solutions to reduce air pollution and encourages the use of clean energy sources.

Running head: PERSUASSIVE SPEECH ON CLEAN AIR 1
A persuasive Speech on Investing in things that promote clean air
Name
Institutional Affiliation

Persuasive Speech on Clean air 2
Topic: Investing in things that promote clean air
General Purpose: The general purpose of this speech is to persuade class members to invest in
things that would promote clean air.
Specific purpose: The specific purpose of this speech is to persuade the class not to engage in
activities that promote air pollution and how to invest in things that promote clean air.
Introduction
Today, we are going to learn about something that is sweeping the environment at an
alarming rate. Are you aware that by 2050, at least 6 million deaths will occur annually from air
pollution (World Health Organization, 2018)? When air pollution is mentioned, we often think of
the fumes and smokes from power plants and industries. According to the World Health
Organization’s 2018 report, 9 out of 10 people inhale contaminated air globally. We are going to
learn the causes of air pollution, its effects, and how the consequences can be changed
consequently learning ways of investing in things that promote clean air. This syndrome can be
understood by examining available data and evidence based on reports from health and
environmental specialists.
Air Pollution
Air pollution refers to release of various gases, fine solids, and liquid aerosols into the
atmosphere at a rate that exceeds the standard capacity of the environment to absorb, dilute or
dissipate them (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster, 2017). Air pollution is caused mostly by human
activities (World Health Organization, 2018). For a complete examination of air pollution to be
done, it is advisable we begin with the factors responsible for air pollution. Human activities like
agricultural activities, burning of fossil fuels, mining operations, animal causes, the mega
pollutants from factories, and power plants remain the significant air pollutants.

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Causes of Air Pollution
According to World Health Organization (2018), contamination of air results mostly from
human activities, though natural phenomena like dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires
contribute as well. Fossil fuels like oil and coal used for road transport and generating electricity
produce sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Gasoline-powered vehicles
produce carbon monoxide through incomplete combustion of the fuels. Examples of fossil fuels
include natural gas, gasoline, and fuel oil. Their combustion takes place in automobiles, power
plants, and other forms of combustion. Also, automobiles produce lead particles into the
atmosphere. Whereas the diesel fuel is burnt to propel the engines of automobiles, the highly
poisonous lead is released into the atmosphere in the form of lead fumes (World Health
Organization, 2018).
Furthermore, World Health Organization 2018 report shows that exhaust from factories
and industries emit large amounts of harmful hydrocarbons, chemicals, and organic compounds
which contaminate air. Factories and industrial emissions are the leading causes of air pollution.
They emit large volumes of minute particles of liquids and solids in the form of fumes, smokes,
dust, and soot which remain suspended in the atmosphere causing different health problems.
Also, agricultural activities like the use of insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers produce
harmful chemicals which find their way into the air. Besides, the application of fertilizer is
responsible for the pollution of the atmosphere by nitrogen dioxide.
Cows through their dung are responsible for the production of 15% of the greenhouse
gases with the other livestock combined amounting to only 3% (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster,
2017). This study also asserted that mostly the dung release methane which is 20 times more

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detrimental than the carbon dioxide in warming the globe. Mining operations involve the
generation of methane in the landfills which then escapes into the atmosphere causing air
pollution. Additionally, stoves or electric cookers used in residential heating systems produce
gases and soot into the atmosphere, some of which are directly inhaled by the cooks causing
different health problems (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster, 2017).
Health and Environmental Effects of Air Pollution
Air pollution has different effects on health and the environment at large. Particulate
matter can deeply penetrate the passages of the lungs thus entering the bloodstream causing
respiratory, cerebrovascular, and cardiovascular diseases (Khafaie et al., 2016). Maternal
exposure to outdoor air pollutants ultimately leads to severe outcomes like small gestation age
births and low birth weight (Burnett et al., 2018). Also, air pollution can affect neurological
development causing diabetes among children. An estimated 4.2 million deaths that occur
annually are linked to ambient pollution of the air resulting mainly from chronic obstructed
pulmonary disease, heart diseases, and acute respiratory infections in children, and lung cancer.
Lung cancer, stroke, low respiratory infections, and chronic pulmonary infections account for 29
%, 17%, and 43 % of these deaths respectively (World Health Organization, 2018).
People who live along busy roads and industrial sites with high concentration of ambient
pollutants record high cases of health complications. The most susceptible groups include the
elderly, children, and those suffering from pre-existing heart or lung diseases. Children are
observed to undergo lung development; hence exposure to air pollution can lead to a deficiency
in lung growth and functioning (World Health Organization, 2018).

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Moreover, air pollution harms the environment affecting the climate and the ecosystem.
Recent climatic changes and global warming are attributed to air pollution. Black carbon and
Methane are potent climatic pollutants. They contribute to climatic change and global warming
thus affecting the productivity of agricultural plants. Although the lifetimes of black carbon and
methane in the atmosphere are short, their contribution to global warming is much higher than
that of carbon dioxide. Black carbon absorbs sunlight thus escalating atmospheric temperature
consequently causing global warming evidenced by the effects on snow and melting of ice.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which is about 84 times more disastrous than carbon
dioxide (World Health Organization, 2018). Black carbon and Ozone impair weather processes
thus decreasing activities of agricultural productivity leading to food insecurity. Also, these
pollutants negatively affect the ability of the green plants to purify the air (World Health
Organization, 2018).
Solutions to Air Pollution and Investment on Things that Promote Clean Air
Solutions to air pollution require proactive approaches by individuals, governments, and
non-governmental organizations. In order to reduce emissions from industries and factories,
compliance reports should be made mandatory to all sectors across the globe. Companies should
be compelled to adhere to the environmental regulations such as the ISO 14001 on sustainability.
Therefore, anyone who has a passion for entrepreneurship should invest their capital in those
entities that promote sustainability. Also, we are encouraged to use public modes of transport as
this will reduce emissions from automobiles. Carpooling, especially for people who come from
the same locality, is influential in reducing emissions from cars. The process is not only cost
effective but also reduces pollution from cars (World Health Organization, 2018).

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Furthermore, we should prioritise energy conservation measures like switching off lights
and fans whenever one goes out. A high amount of fossil fuels is burnt to produce electricity. By
switching off lights and fans, we save the environment from degradation. Besides, you should
invest in motion sensor switches which detect emotions of people in the near vicinity to switch
on and off the light (Narain & Sall, 2016). Consider this scenario; a rich man in Africa throws
away plastic containers while a poor man in the same continent uses the same plastic to build a
house. Wouldn’t this be environmental conservation?
Moreover, we should invest resources in technologies that promote clean energy.
Technologies like, wind, solar, and geothermal have very minimal pollution capabilities. Other
than using electricity for lighting, we should prioritise on these clean sources thus reducing
combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Besides, people should invest in efficient
energy devices like CFL lights which consume little power (Narain & Sall, 2016). Besides, we
are encouraged to invest in most modern technologies used in food production like genetically
modified meat.
Conclusion
It is my sincere hope that you have found inspiration from my speech. The speech has
examined issues of concern regarding air pollution. It has highlighted how our activities pollute
air, shading light on the side effects and how we can change these practices. Furthermore, the
speech has warned for further devastating consequences if the trend continues including further
global warming and death of flora and fauna. As an entrepreneur, therefore, I urge all of you to
invest in those areas and businesses that promote the use of clean energy.

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References
Burnett, R., Chen, H., Szyszkowicz, M., Fann, N., Hubbell, B., Pope, C. A., ... & Coggins, J.
(2018). Global estimates of mortality associated with long-term exposure to outdoor fine
particulate matter. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(38), 9592-
9597.
Devinny, J. S., Deshusses, M. A., & Webster, T. S. (2017). Biofiltration for air pollution control.
CRC press.
Khafaie, M. A., Yajnik, C. S., Salvi, S. S., & Ojha, A. (2016). Critical review of air pollution
health effects with special concern on respiratory health. Journal of air pollution and
health, 1(2), 123-136.Narain, Urvashi, and Chris Sall. Methodology for valuing the
health impacts of air pollution: discussion of challenges and proposed solutions.
Narain, U., & Sall, C. (2016). Methodology for valuing the health impacts of air pollution:
discussion of challenges and proposed solutions. World Bank.
World Health Organization. (2018). Ambient air pollution: Health impacts. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/health-impacts/en/