Delhi air pollution | Air quality in capital inches closer to ‘severe’ category
Delhi air pollution | Air quality in capital inches closer to 'severe' category The Hindu
sdgtalks
The Poisonous Haze Blanketing Delhi
The poisonous haze blanketing Delhi thickened on Wednesday with the air quality standing close to the “severe” category amid unfavourable meteorological conditions.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
The national capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 392 at 8 a.m. The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 p.m. every day, was 397 on Tuesday. It was 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday.
Severe Air Pollution Levels
Air pollution levels entered the severe category (AQI above 400) at many places within the city, including:
- ITO (427)
- RK Puram (422)
- Punjabi Bagh (432)
- IGI Airport (404)
- Dwarka (416)
- Patparganj (417)
- Sonia Vihar (413)
- Rohini (421)
- Nehru Nagar (434)
- Anand Vihar (430)
Neighbouring areas such as Ghaziabad (362), Gurugram (322), Greater Noida (312), Noida (364), and Faridabad (369) also recorded very poor air quality.
Impact on Health
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, 401 and 450 ‘severe’, and above 450 ‘severe plus’.
Doctors say breathing in the polluted air of Delhi is equivalent to the harmful effects of smoking approximately 10 cigarettes a day. Prolonged exposure to high levels of pollution can cause or exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dramatically raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The current air pollution crisis in Delhi highlights the urgent need to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 13: Climate Action.
Contributing Factors
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winters.
According to a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) analysis, the city experiences peak pollution from November 1 to 15, when the number of stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana increases.
Global Rankings
According to IQAir, a Swiss company that specializes in air quality monitoring, Delhi was the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday, followed by Dhaka, Lahore, and Mumbai. According to a report compiled by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) in August, air pollution is shortening lives by almost 12 years in Delhi.
Government Measures
An official of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said stringent measures, including a ban on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks in the national capital, under the final stage of the central government’s air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will continue until further orders. The official added that stubble burning incidents are rising again, and the meteorological conditions are not favorable for dispersion of pollutants.
Conclusion
Delhi’s air quality crisis demands immediate action and collaboration between government bodies, citizens, and other stakeholders to achieve the SDGs and ensure a healthier and sustainable future for all.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content:
- SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article:
- Air Quality Index (AQI): The article mentions the AQI levels in Delhi, which is an indicator used to measure air pollution levels.
- Stubble-burning percentage: The article mentions the contribution of stubble-burning to air pollution in Delhi, indicating the need to measure and reduce this percentage.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Air Quality Index (AQI) |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | Air Quality Index (AQI) |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Stubble-burning percentage |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: thehindu.com
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
