http://www.ru.nl/english/news-agenda/vm/nature-environment/2016/volkswagen-fraud-44-000-healthy-years-lost-europe/
A few months ago, it came to light that Volkswagen had sold 9 million fraudulent cars, or 9 millions cars that emitted 526 kilo tonnes more nitrogen oxides than permissible by law. And while this is bad enough on its own, a more recent study found that the excess nitrogen oxides in the air have actually decreased human life spans in Europe (some impact in US as well) as well as the economic impact of those lost years. The excess pollution has caused a total of 44,000 healthy years to be lost, 43,000 of them in Europe. These 44,000 years amount to about 39 billion dollars in economic loss (over five times more than Volkswagen has promised to pay to cover damages). These impacts are expected to double over the years if Volkswagen does not recall their cars, meaning the damages done by the fraudulent cars are still being seen today, even though the scandal was first discovered months ago
The importance of this article is simply that companies today may just not follow guidelines and restrictions set upon them by the government. It seems that with new climate change guidelines that should be appearing in the next few years will need to come with increased surveillance and enforcement on these companies. Otherwise, many companies may not adhere to standards, and human lives and money will be lost.
A few months ago, it came to light that Volkswagen had sold 9 million fraudulent cars, or 9 millions cars that emitted 526 kilo tonnes more nitrogen oxides than permissible by law. And while this is bad enough on its own, a more recent study found that the excess nitrogen oxides in the air have actually decreased human life spans in Europe (some impact in US as well) as well as the economic impact of those lost years. The excess pollution has caused a total of 44,000 healthy years to be lost, 43,000 of them in Europe. These 44,000 years amount to about 39 billion dollars in economic loss (over five times more than Volkswagen has promised to pay to cover damages). These impacts are expected to double over the years if Volkswagen does not recall their cars, meaning the damages done by the fraudulent cars are still being seen today, even though the scandal was first discovered months ago
The importance of this article is simply that companies today may just not follow guidelines and restrictions set upon them by the government. It seems that with new climate change guidelines that should be appearing in the next few years will need to come with increased surveillance and enforcement on these companies. Otherwise, many companies may not adhere to standards, and human lives and money will be lost.