The Smog Crisis in New Delhi
New Delhi is currently under a state of emergency air
quality concerns. The smog in the city has worsened in recent weeks, reaching
over 10 times the pollution level of Beijing. The World Health Organization has
even found some areas to have pollution over 40 times the safe level. This
increase in smog is due in part to the illegal burning of crop remnants by
farmers in neighboring areas, as well as increased construction. Without a
strong public transportation infrastructure, New Delhi residents are also
reliant on personal vehicles, increasing emissions released in the city. The
smog is so bad in some areas that schools have been closed and planes have been
grounded. The government has not yet been able to propose a viable solution to
mitigate the problem, so the wealthy buy air purifiers, leaving the less-affluent
population without options.
Although air quality is not a tangible natural resource, it
still greatly impacts well-being. In this case, not only is the pollution and
lack of laws governing emissions troubling, but this has become a class issue. The
less-affluent are then forced to live in polluted conditions without the
ability to protect themselves or their children, who are most at risk for
health impacts. Without increased policy mandates and proactive measures for
the future, air quality will continue to decrease as the population and city
continue to grow.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/11/new-delhis-gas-chamber-smog-is-so-bad-that-united-airlines-has-stopped-flying-there/?utm_term=.07917b7e9b5a
Air pollution is very common is in developing countries because this is where corporations like to set up shop for production through factories and plants. These corporations use these developing countries for their cheap labor and because they can also pollute their environment. This air pollution as well as the emissions coming from vehicles can cause rapid air pollution. Environmental issues should be dealt with directly through trade or else nothing will be done about it. Every form of environmental degradation leads back to trade.
ReplyDeleteIt seems as though the Indian government doesn't have the resources to protect its massive population from pollution, especially in large cities such as New Delhi. You state that the government hasn't come up with a viable solution to this issue, but it seems as if they just don't have the resources, the ability, or the motive to implement a solution. Improving public transport, limiting construction and cracking down on illegal burnings could all go a long way towards better air quality. Until the government finds the resources or motive to deal with this issue, public health will be at risk and eventually deaths will increase.
ReplyDelete