Delhi’s pollution is a crisis of democracy as much as public health, citizens say – France 24

Report on New Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report details the annual air pollution crisis in New Delhi, occurring between October and November, and analyzes its severe repercussions through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The recurring public health emergency presents a significant challenge to India’s progress on several key goals, including those related to health, inequality, sustainable cities, and effective governance.

Public Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Severity of Air Pollution

• Air quality in New Delhi has deteriorated to levels 30 times the safe limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The atmosphere contains a hazardous mixture of particulate matter, smoke, fog, and sulphur dioxide, which is trapped by stagnant winter air, creating a persistent smog.

Health Consequences

The pollution crisis directly undermines SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through a range of severe health impacts:

1. Acute Illness: Hospitals are annually overburdened with patients, including children and the elderly, suffering from severe respiratory illnesses.
2. Chronic and Long-Term Illness: Prolonged exposure is linked to cognitive impairment, an increased risk of cancer, and chronic diseases in children.
3. High Mortality Rate: According to a Lancet Planetary Health report, air pollution was responsible for 1.67 million deaths in India in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of all fatalities in the country.

Urban Sustainability and Inequality (SDG 10 & SDG 11)

Failure to Ensure a Sustainable Urban Environment (SDG 11)

The crisis demonstrates a critical failure in achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by rendering the urban environment unsafe and unsustainable for its 20 million residents.

• Routine disruption of essential services, including public transport and air travel, due to extremely low visibility.
• Inability of the city to provide clean air, a fundamental component of a safe and resilient urban habitat.

Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Populations (SDG 10)

The effects of air pollution are not evenly distributed, exacerbating existing disparities and contradicting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Lower-income households and individuals experiencing poverty lack the financial means to protect themselves with measures such as in-home air purification systems.
• Vulnerable populations are forced to endure continuous exposure, leading to significantly worse health outcomes compared to more affluent residents.

Governance, Justice, and Institutional Response (SDG 16)

Government Actions and Criticisms

The governmental response has been criticized as inadequate and reactive, raising concerns about the effectiveness and accountability of institutions, a core tenet of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was reportedly implemented only after pollution levels had already reached severe stages, indicating a focus on crisis management over prevention.
• The government’s decision to seek the reversal of a ban on fireworks for the Diwali festival contributed significantly to the poor air quality.
• Allegations have been made regarding the manipulation of air quality data, including the temporary blackout of monitoring websites and incidents of water being sprayed on measurement systems to lower readings.

Suppression of Civic Action

The response to public dissent further challenges the principles of SDG 16.

• A citizen-led protest against government inaction was quickly quelled by police, with over 80 demonstrators arrested.
• Activists reported subsequent harassment and intimidation, indicating a shrinking space for democratic expression and civic engagement.

Climate Action and International Commitments (SDG 13 & SDG 17)

Ineffective Mitigation Measures

Efforts to combat the smog have been described as superficial and insufficient for achieving long-term environmental goals.

1. The deployment of “anti-smog guns” and the installation of a “smog tower” were not at a scale capable of making a tangible impact on air quality.
2. An attempt at cloud seeding to induce artificial rain failed due to a lack of sufficient moisture in the atmosphere.

Contradiction with Global Climate Leadership

The domestic environmental crisis presents a stark contrast to India’s international posture on climate change, impacting its credibility in partnerships for global goals (SDG 17) and climate action (SDG 13).

• India is positioned to lead discussions on climate justice for the Global South at the upcoming COP30 summit.
• Critics argue that this international leadership is hypocritical while the nation’s capital faces a severe, unresolved pollution crisis, undermining the principle of consistent and integrated policy for sustainable development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on New Delhi’s air pollution crisis touches upon several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals addressed are those related to health, sustainable urban living, and climate action. Additionally, the social and political dimensions of the crisis, such as inequality and governance failures, connect to goals concerning justice and reduced inequalities.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article extensively details the severe health consequences of air pollution, which is a core concern of this goal.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The entire context of the article is the urban environmental crisis in New Delhi, making this goal directly relevant.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article explicitly points out the disproportionate impact of pollution on lower-income populations, highlighting a key aspect of inequality.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The discussion of pollution, emissions, government response plans, and India’s participation in COP30 directly links the local crisis to the global challenge of climate change.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article’s focus on government inaction, alleged data manipulation, and the suppression of protests points to challenges in governance, transparency, and fundamental freedoms.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, several targets under the identified SDGs are relevant:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article directly supports this by citing that “air pollution accounted for 17.8 percent of all deaths (1.67 million) in the country in 2019” and mentioning the rise in “severe respiratory illness,” “cognitive impairment,” and “risk of cancer.”

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 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.” The article’s central theme is the hazardous air quality in New Delhi, with pollution levels hitting “30 times the safe limit set by the WHO.” This demonstrates a failure to manage the city’s adverse environmental impact.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all…” The article highlights the exclusion of vulnerable groups from a safe environment, stating that “lower-income households and the many citizens living on the streets in abject poverty have no way to escape,” unlike wealthier residents who can afford air purifiers. This illustrates a severe inequality in the ability to mitigate health risks from pollution.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The article mentions the Indian government’s “Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)” as a policy to manage pollution. However, it also criticizes its late and ineffective implementation, showing a gap between policy creation and effective action.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The article raises concerns about the lack of institutional accountability and transparency by mentioning accusations that the government was “manipulating’ air quality data” and that “open-access websites that provide real-time monitoring of air quality blacked out.”
• Target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms…” The suppression of protests, where “more than 80 demonstrators were arrested,” and the harassment of activists like Saurav Das, directly relate to the failure to protect fundamental freedoms such as the right to peaceful assembly and expression.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides both direct and indirect indicators that can be used to measure progress:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Indicator 3.9.1 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution): The article provides a direct statistic for this indicator, stating that “air pollution accounted for 1.67 million” deaths in India in 2019. The number of hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses is also an implied measure of morbidity.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Indicator 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5) in cities): The article refers to this indicator by mentioning the Air Quality Index (AQI) and stating that pollution levels were “30 times the safe limit set by the WHO.” The real-time monitoring of AQI, when available and not manipulated, serves as a direct measure.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• While no quantitative indicator is provided, the article offers a qualitative measure of inequality. The disparity in access to protective measures like “air-purified rooms” between high-income and low-income groups serves as an indicator of unequal resilience to environmental hazards.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Indicator 13.2.1 (Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans, etc.): The existence of the “Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)” is an indicator of a national strategy. However, its effectiveness, which the article critiques, is a crucial aspect of measuring real progress beyond just the policy’s existence.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Implied Indicators for Target 16.6 & 16.10: The article implies several indicators. For transparency (16.6), the uptime and integrity of public air quality data websites can be measured. For fundamental freedoms (16.10), the number of protesters arrested (“more than 80”) and the documented cases of harassment against environmental activists serve as direct negative indicators.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: france24.com