Various causes of pollution of the air are discussed on the page titled Air Pollution. Polluted air can cause sickness and death to humans, plants and animals. Increased rates of heart diseases and worsened cases of asthma could be linked to the effects of air pollution. Hence the air around us must be clean.

Smog causes respiratory problems in humans and animals and contribute to holes in the ozone layer, increasing the exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

Smog also leads to visibility degradation and acid rain. CO2 is believed to be the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change and the global warming of the earth.

Some form of Air Pollution Control (APC) measures are required to ensure clean air. APC can be achieved "Proactively" or "Reactively" Proactive APC (sometimes referred to as Input Control) involves prevention of air pollution or measures taken ahead of a potential air pollution to limit the pollution.

Proactive APC's measures include:

• Using less energy, leading lesser emissions to the atmosphere;
• Using Energy Efficient approaches and devices;
• Adopting renewable energy alternatives
• Government actions - Establishing laws (Acts/regulations) that controls emission levels of air pollutants. For example, law (s) limiting the amount and quality of exhaust coming from the exhaust pipes of automobiles (vehicles); laws limiting the amount and quality of emissions coming from power stations etc. Several of such laws are in operation in Europe, North America and other parts of the world. Examples are the Clean Air Acts in USA and Canada and the European Union (EU)'s Large Combustion Plant directive.
• Government Actions - Emission Trading Scheme and higher electricity prices which penalizes increased emissions and reward reduced emissions by different factories. This approach forces industries to invest in APC devices to reduce their generation of emissions.
• Government Actions - Developing laws that govern the manufacturing or development of APC devices that restrict emission quantities and types
• Globally - the adoption of the three (3) Kyoto Mechanisms - CDM, JI and ET. For more on these mechanisms, go to climate change. These mechanisms are tools to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming.

The government laws/regulations or directives are only effective when people obey them. Therefore, the implementation of the above approaches sometimes should involve the enforcements of the laws.

The reactive APCs take place after the air has been polluted. These are not desirable actions for air remediation. Proactive APCs are therefore preferred.

The proactive (input) APCs are by far more effective.

Other Resources: