Task Force: Pollution in NYC

Congratulations!

You have been chosen by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to suggest new pollution-reducing strategies for the city. 

Why Are We Doing This?

Air, water, and land pollution are negatively impacting the health of New Yorkers. Every year, pollution causes preventable deaths and hospital visits. It also contributes to environmental damage and climate change. Because the sources of pollution are varied, the solutions must be broad and creative. 

Steps

1. Research some of the main types and sources of pollution in New York City, as well as how it affects people’s lives
2. Decide what types of pollution you want to tackle, then think about:
   1. Which types of pollution do you think is most important to focus on? 
   2. What are the main sources of that pollution? 
   3. What are the biggest health and environmental impacts of these types of pollution? 
   4. What strategies could you implement to reduce the amount of pollution? 
3. Next, think about how you would justify your proposed changes/policies. 
   1. Who would be impacted by your changes? 
   2. Are you asking the public to change their behavior? In what way? How would you convince them to make those changes? 
   3. What does the government need to do? How would you convince them to make the necessary changes?  
4. Think through the possible objections to your suggested policies.  
5. Share with the group and see if you can convince them that your ideas are the best for combating pollution in NYC. 

Things to Keep in Mind:

• You do not have to come up with an exhaustive list of procedures for your plan. It’s better to come up with a few ideas that you feel confident with and spend time thinking through possible objections to them. 
• You don’t have to worry about answering all possible objections, but you should have some defense of why you think your policies would work. 
• Your suggestions should be things that could be realistically implemented.