Making the World Better is good
Pollution is a problem, but it's already being solved somewhat
In 2002 at or around 117 countries still allowed the use of leaded gasoline.
Within 20 years, we (as a species) got our act together and reduced that number to….
ZERO.
Zero countries sell leaded gasoline. (Some make it, because some car racing circuits and legacy planes still need it, but C’mon.)
Now, you might ask why did we ever put lead into our fuels? Especially since humanity as a whole has known lead to be harmful since the first century of the Common Era. Well, it’s the tale as old as capitalism itself. It centers around convenience and market power.
Early in the 20th century car engines were prone to “knocking” or premature explosions in the combustible engine. One scientist, Thomas Midgley, went through the periodic table until he found an element that could be added to gasoline which would prevent these knocks. It was already known that Ethanol was a preventative solution, BUT (and there’s always a but) ethanol wasn’t very efficient and couldn’t be patented. Midgley’s finding could and were patented.
HEre’s a horrible tid-bit: while investigating and experimenting with his lead as the anti-knocker lead poisinging itself killed several workers (and temporarily sickened Midgley) at Midgley’s factory.
As recently as 2022 it was estimated that lead poisoning still caused 900,000 Deaths Per Year
But not from our cars. And not, for the most part, from leaded gasoline.
That’s a good thing.