Tokyo Environmental Issues
Tokyo has multiple environmental issues. The worst part about these environmental issues is that they have a long term effect. For example, Tokyo is experiencing a severe cause of air pollution. Tokyo has been polluted for a long time, but has decided to start increasing long term campaigns to stop this. Tokyo is dealing with major problems, but still has the determination to fix their problem.
Tokyo has many
environmental issues ranging from the heat island effect to air pollution. Environmental storms are even an environmental issue. The
heat island effect is when the city gets heated up due to everyday activities.
Air pollution is caused by automobiles and the lack of consideration to control
this. Tokyo has many major environmental issues that need to be take care of
before things get worst.
The heat island effect is a major problem in Tokyo. It is a major problem it dramatically increases the temperature around the urban area making the likely hood of a heat stroke or dehydration more common. What causes the heat island effect is the increased amount of industry and population (Heat Island Effects, 13 April 15). Tokyo is a huge manufacturer of electronic devices like phones, cars, computers, and cameras. Also, the burning of materials like radioactive material from other countries, contributes to the heat island effect. Burning radioactive material releases huge amounts of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. This increases the temperature around Tokyo dramatically. Another factor that supports heat island effect is the lack of trees and plants. Tokyo does not have many trees or bushes to filter the air and provide shade. The isothermal line around the island of Japan also contributes to this because it tells us that a specific place in Japan has the same temperature as in Tokyo (Hooper, 13 April 15). In this case, Tokyo is linked with a point on the isothermal line that has a hot tropical climate. Ultimately, the heat island effect is a major problem and is caused by many things including urbanization and increased industrialization. Tokyo has many environmental issues although the most critical one is air pollution. It is the most critical environmental issue because it creates makes the air in the city almost un-breathable; in terms of it will make you sick. The diseases you could get from the air pollution are asthma, bronchitis, and many types of lung cancers. Imagine one of the most populated cities in the world with un-breathable air. Not only is this massive city polluted, it is also the capitol of Japan. It would be very critical for the Japanese to keep their capitol and leader away from the pollution. Air pollution is mainly caused by automobiles and factories (Tokyo Air Pollution Climbs, 13 April 15). Automobiles and factories in Tokyo release smoke full of toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and carbon dioxide. Factories burn coal and even radioactive waste from other countries and it decreases the oxygen supplies and releases chemicals in the air that can cause lung cancer. (Pollution in Tokyo, 13 April 15) Air pollution will hurt Tokyo in the long run. If Tokyo doesn't decrease the air pollution, in a certain number of years the city could be almost inhabitable. The air pollution is so bad in Tokyo right now that you could literally see the smog covering the city. The air pollution will also release more carbon dioxide making the city hotter. This air pollution contributes to global warming too. Tokyo is making an effort to prevent all these environmental problems. Tokyo is losing the fight against the end to air pollution. The number if automobiles make it seem impossible, but they are still trying. The government has now issued strict rules addressing air pollution. It addresses what type of air pollutants can get released and the use of high quality fuel. That fuel will be more environmentally friendly meaning that it will not release as many harmful chemicals. Tokyo has even restricted the amount of diesel automobiles you can buy in eight of the 23 wards of Tokyo. Factories are also being upgraded by adding smoke cleaners that will remove a lot of the chemicals that should not enter into our atmosphere. Heat island effect is also trying to be reduced by decreasing daily activities like driving in your car. For example, subways are being expanded to limit the use of cars that create carbon dioxide that will contribute to heat island effect. Subways run on electricity making them environmentally friendly vs an automobile.Ultimately, Japan has made their efforts to decrease their environmental problems. Although it is not much of a problem at the moment, incoming typhoons, earthquakes, and storms have caused a lot of damage to Tokyo before. Typhoon Phanfone is a great example of a natural disaster that greatly effected Tokyo. Earthquakes are also a major threat to Tokyo. Tokyo is in an earthquake prone area meaning that strong earthquakes could occur at anytime. Some earthquakes shake the foundations of buildings while others topple them over. One of the strongest earthquakes was The Great Kanto Earthquake. This earthquake redefined how Tokyo would defend themselves against this. This earthquake destroyed nearly half of the whole city of Tokyo. Both typhoons and earthquakes pose threats to the safety of Tokyo's buildings and citizens. In conclusion, there are two main environmental problems: heat island effect and air pollution. They are being addressed and maybe in a few years Japan will have clean air and a cool temperature. Tokyo has much work ahead of them before they can see clear skies and breathe fresh air. |