Drafting a Resolution-Setting standards and goals for Air Quality Management in and around School by Std. XII

 

With an objective to bring Parliamentary processes in life and to build up the understanding of how a resolution for reducing air pollution is drafted, the students of Std. XII conducted a ‘Mock Parliament’ activity in their Political Science class during the tird week of July. After a series of discussion in the class, the students drafted a resolution under the guidance of their teacher. The final resolution drafted by the students is as given below-

Drafting a Resolution-Setting standards and goals for Air Quality Management in and around School 

The air quality index (AQI) is an index for reporting air quality on a daily basis. It is a measure of how air pollution affects one's health within a short time period. The purpose of the AQI is to help people know how the local air quality impacts their health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants, for which national air quality standards have been established to safeguard public health.

1. Ground-level ozone

2. Particle pollution/particulate matter (PM2.5/pm 10)

3. Carbon Monoxide

4. Sulphur dioxide

5. Nitrogen dioxide

The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concerns. The concept of AQI has been widely used in many developed countries for over the last three decades. AQI quickly disseminates air quality information in real-time.

 How is AQI calculated?

Different countries use different point scales to report air quality. For instance, the United States uses a 500-point scale, wherein rating between 0 and 50 is considered good. Rating between 301 to 500 range is deemed hazardous. India too follows that the 500-point scale. Every day monitors record concentrations of the major pollutants. These raw measurements are converted into a separate AQI value for each pollutant (ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide) using standard formulae developed by EPA. The highest of these AQI values are reported as the AQI value for that day.

Follow these Tips Every Day to Reduce Pollution:

Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.

Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.

Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.

Follow gasoline re-fuelling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.

Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labelled “spill-proof,” where available.

Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.

Be sure your tires are properly inflated.

Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.

Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.

Consider using gas logs instead of wood.

On Days when High Ozone Levels are Expected

 Take these Extra Steps to Reduce Pollution:

Choose a cleaner commute - share a ride to work or use public transportation.

Combine errands and reduce trips. Walk to errands when possible.

Avoid excessive idling of your automobile.

Refuel your car in the evening when its cooler.

Conserve electricity and set air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees.

Defer lawn and gardening chores that use gasoline-powered equipment, or wait until evening.

On Days when High Particle Levels are Expected

 Take these Extra Steps to Reduce Pollution:

Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.

Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.

Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials.

Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.