Is Delhi set to have even worse air quality this winter compared to previous years?
Oct 7, 2024
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Dr. Gufran Beig, a prominent air quality expert and Chair Professor at NIAS, discusses the alarming state of Delhi's winter air pollution. He reveals how climate change and phenomena like La Niña worsen smog conditions. The conversation highlights the flaws in current government strategies like the Graded Response Action Plan and stresses the need for innovative, comprehensive solutions. With methane and black carbon playing critical roles, Beig calls for a shift in focus towards long-term emission strategies to safeguard Delhi's air quality and public health.
Despite implementing plans like GRAP and the Winter Action Plan, Delhi's air quality remains poor and is expected to worsen this winter due to climate factors.
The interplay between local pollution control measures and regional dynamics emphasizes the need for collaborative strategies across neighboring states to effectively tackle air quality issues.
Deep dives
Toxic Winter Air Quality in Delhi
Delhi’s winter air quality, once a time for outdoor enjoyment, has deteriorated drastically over the past decade, with winter months now marked by toxic air pollution. Despite efforts like the graded response action plan and winter action plan, these measures have not significantly improved air quality beyond poor levels, often exacerbated by meteorological factors like climate change. The current winter is projected to be particularly severe due to delayed meteorological phenomena such as La Nina, which impacts wind patterns essential for dispersing pollutants. Thus, the combination of stagnant air and cold temperatures is contributing to heightened pollution levels during this season.
Impact of Climate Phenomena on Pollution
La Nina and El Nino are critical climate phenomena that significantly affect monsoon patterns and air quality in Delhi. La Nina typically correlates with beneficial monsoons, but recent climate changes have complicated these patterns, leading to unexpected dry spells and the delayed onset of crucial winter winds. Increased frequency and unpredictability of these phenomena have resulted in variations in air quality, with recent years showing that La Nina can enhance winds, helping to disperse pollutants more effectively compared to El Nino's stagnating effects. Understanding these atmospheric conditions is vital in addressing the recurring air quality crisis in northern India.
The Mutual Influence of Air Pollution and Climate Change
The connection between air pollution and climate change is characterized by a cycle of mutual influence, where emissions from various human activities contribute to both problems. Common air pollutants like methane and black carbon not only exacerbate global warming but also degrade air quality by creating conditions that trap toxins. The similarity in root causes indicates that any effort to mitigate air pollution must also take climate change into account; otherwise, the two issues will continue to worsen each other. Effective long-term strategies must prioritize the reduction of these shared emissions to address the deteriorating air quality in urban areas like Delhi.
Need for an Airshed Approach to Pollution Mitigation
Current pollution control measures in cities like Delhi often focus on local initiatives which can overlook the broader context of regional air quality dynamics. Implementing an airshed-focused strategy, which considers the interconnected environmental impacts beyond political boundaries, could significantly enhance the effectiveness of pollution control efforts. This approach recognizes that pollution sources in neighboring states contribute substantially to Delhi's air quality problems, underscoring the need for collaborative regional strategies. For meaningful change, stakeholders across states must coordinate efforts to address shared challenges, rather than relying solely on individual city-centric interventions.
The Delhi winter used to be something everyone looked forward to. But over the past decade, Delhiites have come to dread the winter months due to toxic air quality, which have been linked to a spate of health issues.
The government has developed a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), and a Winter Action Plan to tackle air pollution. But these measures --- seasonal and crisis-oriented in nature -- have failed to improve the air quality beyond the ‘poor’ level in the October to January period. This year, Delhi’s air quality is expected to be even more toxic compared to previous years due to climate-related factors and meteorological phenomena such as a delayed La Nina.
What is the link between climate change and air quality in Delhi? Is an emission-focussed approach feasible any longer? And what new strategies and policies are needed so that northern India doesn’t suffocate every winter?
Guest: Dr Gufran Beig, Chair Professor at NIAS (IISc) and Founder Project Director, SAFAR
Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu.
Edited by Jude Francis Weston
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