Mehar Zohaib Ahmad
Millions of people in South Asia are experiencing severe disruptions in their lives due to toxic air pollution, which is causing schools to close, affecting athletic activities, and prompting governments to advise citizens to stay indoors to prevent health issues. With winter approaching and cold, heavy air trapping pollution in a thick blanket of smog, South Asian countries face an annual problem of worsening air pollution. According to studies, four of the world’s most polluted countries and nine of the ten most polluted cities are located in South Asia, which has emerged as the worldwide hotspot for air pollution. Why does South Asia have more pollution than other regions? Over the past 20 years, South Asian countries have experienced a notable surge in industrialization, economic development, and population growth, which has raised the demand for fossil fuels and energy. While most nations are impacted by sources like vehicles and industry, South Asia is particularly affected by a few key sources, such as burning agricultural waste, cremating people, and using solid fuels for cooking and heating. For example, stubble burning in the nearby states of Punjab and Haryana—a practice in which stubble left over after harvesting rice is burned to clear fields—has contributed to almost 38% of the pollution in New Delhi this year. The pollution issue has also been made worse by the growth in the number of automobiles on the road in the area. For instance, since the early 2000s, the number of vehicles has surged fourfold in Pakistan and India. According to government data, New Delhi has 472 automobiles per thousand people, making it the most polluted metropolis in the world for four years running. As of 2022, there will be about eight million vehicles on its roads. This information comes from Swiss Group IQAir’s ranking of the city. Why do initiatives to lessen pollution seem to be failing? While several South Asian nations have begun to install more pollution monitors, create air quality management plans, and advocate for the use of cleaner fuels, these efforts have not yet shown noticeable effects. According to experts, the issue is that the nations’ attempts to reduce pollution are not coordinated. According to studies, dust particles can travel hundreds of kilometres, crossing international borders and having an impact on nations other than their own. For instance, the wind that blows from northwest to southeast brings around 30% of the pollution that clogs Bangladesh’s biggest cities from India. Thus, policies aimed at reducing hazardous air at the national or local level are not very effective. What’s the fix? To address the pollution issue in the region, countries in South Asia will need to work together to improve monitoring and formulate policies. Simultaneously, these regional endeavours must be counterbalanced by tailoring solutions to local needs as appropriate. It will also be necessary to expand the focus to include industries like waste management and agriculture that have not gotten much attention up to this point. For instance, governments could provide subsidies for improved harvesting equipment to reduce stubble burning. While some nations, including India, have already begun to provide similar incentives, the demand for these machines has been constrained because of their high purchase costs and lengthy rental wait times.
