The wind blows across Country A and into Country B. Country A has ...

[BRWH]

The wind blows across Country A and into Country B. Country A has fossil-fuel-burning power plants, but a relatively low level of air pollution. Country B has power plants run by moving water (hydroelectric plants), but a higher level of pollution.
 
  What's happening? What could the two countries do to correct the situation? Explain how this pertains to international air-pollution laws.

Question 2

How would our pattern of life be different in the absence of the Clean Air Act and its amendments? Write a short essay describing the possibilities.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[joshraies]

Answer to Question 1

The wind can scatter pollutants from the area where they are produced elsewhere. If the wind is blowing pollutants from Country A into Country B, then even though Country B is acting more sustainably they may suffer the consequences of Country A's less responsible actions. It would be important to establish a clear connection between the pollution in Country B and the actions of power plants in Country A before the countries correct the situation. Possible resolutions might be reimbursements for Country B or resolutions for Country A to reduce emissions by a certain percentage per year until reasonable standards were met. International air-pollution laws are complicated, since some countries may be taking on a pollution responsibility that is not necessarily their own. Flexibility for such issues has to be built into international law.

Answer to Question 2

Without the Clean Air Act and its amendments, the air we breathe would be very deadly. The death rate for children and older adults would be higher than it is currently. There would be more people who are unable to participate in society because of disabilities caused by poor air quality. The number of days of school missed by children would be higher due to increased incidence of asthma and other lung-related diseases. School absenteeism decreases the level of education among affected children. The cost of health care would be much higher.
Some industries that require clean air would have to spend money to filter the air prior to use. The rate of decay of materials would be faster, and the cost of building, bridge, and highway maintenance would be higher. Food would cost more because more crops would be damaged or destroyed due to poor air quality. More forests would be damaged and the cost of forest products would be higher. The number of lakes that would be dead would be higher, and those people who depend upon forests and lakes for their livelihoods would be unemployed. Employers would have to deal with a higher illness rate among workers.