After all, Socrates emphasized that, "Every action has its pleasures and its price." As the date when peak oil occurs, likely around mid-century, alternatives to this continuing dependence on fossil fuel resources will require a Manhattan Project-level investment by the public and private sectors to avoid growing air pollution and its concomitant adverse impacts on human health and climate change, and some recommendations to this end are presented below. 3.

Recommendation

Complex problems require complex solutions, and developing effective preventions to air pollution is no exception. Nevertheless, in a "follow-the-money" analysis, it is clear that the majority of the investments in administering and controlling air pollution to date have been worthwhile, but these investments have not translated into economic incentives for the poor. Even some modest reductions in the causes of air pollution over time, though, can have an enormous cumulative effect in preventing further pollution. Therefore, it is recommended that the federal government provide low-income taxpayers with the monetary incentives needed to invest in alternative energy resources such as solar-powered water heaters that such as those that are required of all citizens in Israel (Katsioloudis, Bondi and Deal 12). These initiatives should provide economic incentives for low-income taxpayers as well as minority-owned enterprises that participate in the manufacture or distribution of these products.

4.

Organization/Expert Reaction

It is becoming increasingly apparent that there is no magic bullet available that can prevent air pollution entirely. Rather, what is required are incremental alternatives that achieve cumulative impacts over time, something many policymakers may not understand. In the drive to achieve reductions in air pollution, simple yet cost-effective...

In this regard, Katsioloudis and his associates emphasize that, "Solar thermal applications have been acknowledged among the leading alternative solutions endeavoring to face the uncontrollable oil price variations, the gradual depletion of fossil fuel reserves, and the chain of environmental consequences caused by excessive usage" (12).
5.

Conclusion

The research showed that air pollution represents a major economic and health global problem today. The research also showed that the major causes of air pollution include internal combustion vehicle emissions, industrial applications, commercial and residential heating, as well as the burning of solid wastes. While outdoor and indoor air pollution are both problems, indoor air pollution disproportionately affects the poor. Finally, the research showed that preventing air pollution can pay big dividends in terms of improved human health as well as in economic incentives that can be achieved by federal government sponsorship of initiatives such as solar-powered water heaters for all American taxpayers, with minority-owned enterprise receiving additional federal support.