Course:VANT149/2021/Capstone/Arts/Team24

Student researchers

• RuiAn (#14635841)

• Rui Zhou (#21055819)

• Yingxin Yang (#96191135)

• Yu Cai (#41700204)

• Ziqin Zhou (#36550689)

What is your research question?

Identify the relationship between income inequality and air quality in Vancouver

Research proposal keywords or concepts

Income Inequality, Air Quality, Climate Action

How would you summarize your proposed research idea?

The deterioration of air quality has a great impact on our quality of life, human health, and the city's management. One main aim of the research study is to examine the relationship between income inequality and air quality in Vancouver.  We will collect data from people with different salary ranges and measure the performance of people on environmental related problems  by quantitative survey to get the results of our RQ.

Where is the literature gap and how does your proposed research attempt to fill that gap?

Previous research has found that income inequality has a negative impact on environmental quality ( Liu et al.,2019). A systemic understanding of how income inequality contributes to air quality is scarcity. To examine the relationship, the study will use a survey-based quantitative approach which includes each participant's daily habits, income levels, and the degrees of effect on air quality.

Why is this gap worthy of research?

The problem of income inequality in Vancouver is relatively more serious all over Canada. Understanding the link between income inequality and air quality will help governments and related organizations take actions to deal with factors that cause harm to the environment.

What future change could this research possibly contribute to, related to sustainability?

Our research focuses on air problems caused by income inequality, related to “reduced inequalities” “climate actions”. We hope this research will reduce the unequal relations and other problems caused by inequality, and pay more attention to environmental issues, and change the environment through real actions.

What made your group interested in and/or what excites you about your proposed topic?

Both “income inequality” and “air quality” are important aspects of sustainability. Income inequality is related to an equitable society while air quality is related to the health environment. This is the premise for us to choose this topic. Also, our group noticed that people with different income levels may live in totally different neighborhoods or workplaces in some developed countries. Their neighborhood/workplaces are polluted to different levels. That makes our group interested in exploring the relationship between income inequality and air quality in Vancouver where we will live for the next 3 years.

References

1. Baek, J., & Gweisah, G. (2013). Does income inequality harm the environment?: Empirical evidence from the united states. Energy Policy, 62, 1434-1437. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421513007404
2. Collicutt, B., Juanes, F., & Dudas, SE (2019). Microplastics in juvenile chinook salmon and their nearshore environments on the east coast of vancouver island. Environmental Pollution (1987), 244, 135- 142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.09.137
3. Haupt, J. (2018, May 15). Unexpected connections: Income inequality and environmental degradation. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.shapingtomorrowsworld.org/ hauptInequality.html
4. Heymann, J., Barrera, M., & Oxford Medicine Online. (2014;2013;). Ensuring a sustainable future: Making progress on environment and equity. Oxford University Press.https://www.citationmachine.net/apa
5. Lin, M. (2004). Gaseous Air Pollutants and Asthma Hospitalization of Children with Low Household Income in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. American Journal of Epidemiology, 159(3), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwh043
6. Statistics Canada (2013). Ambient air quality measurements. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/research-science/applications/measurements/ambient.html
7. Torras, M. (2006). The impact of power equality, income, and the environment on human health: Some inter-country comparisons. International Review of Applied Economics, 20(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692170500362199