IntroductionNew York City has unique advantages in that a considerable number of people live in close proximity to each other. This has led to increased use of public transportation systems (such as subways and buses). On average, New York's total environmental footprint is 7.1 tons per person per year. This is well below the national average of 24.5 tonnes. The city contributes 1% of the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere in the United States each year. (“Inventory Greenhouse of New York City,” 2007) (Jarvey, 2006) Despite these benefits and its low levels of carbon emissions, New York City was named the dirtiest city of 2012 by Travel and Leisure magazine . They cited poor air quality, water and large amounts of trash everywhere. This is problematic because New York has been working to systematically reduce overall amounts of pollution for many decades. These conclusions ignore positive transformations and how they have impacted New York. To fully understand what is happening, we must study the history of pollution, its effects, its causes, its reasons and areas for improvement. Together, these elements will highlight the global scope of these transformations and their impact on the quality of life within the city. (Brown, 2012) (“Inventory Greenhouse of New York City”, 2007) (Jarvey, 2006) A Timeline of Pollution New York began experiencing pollution problems in the late 18th century. It was at this time that the city became a major center of trade and commerce. What made it such an ideal location was that the area was surrounded by various freshwater ports. This made it easier for ships to access the port at any time of the year. (Waldman, 2013) (Jarvey, 2006) Same as middle of paper...... similar type of approach. In the long term, this has improved the quality of life in the city by solving some of the most common problems affecting large urban centers. In many ways, one could argue that this is what helps make New York such a popular destination.ReferencesBrown, R. (2012). Dirty truth! New York Daily News. Retrieved from: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/filthy-truth-new-york-named-dirtiest-us-city-tourists-report-article-1.1161800New York City Inventory Greenhouse . (2007). New York Government. Retrieved from: http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/ccp_report041007.pdfJarvey, B. (2006). The big green apple. New York, NY: Globe Pequot Press. Reitze, A. (2005). Law on air pollution from stationary sources. Washington DC: Environmental Law Institute. Waldman, J. (2013). Heartbeats in the mud. New York, New York: Empire State Editions.