India: Prolonged air emergency levels must be addressed immediately

Background

Reacting to the reports of air pollution level in Delhi remaining in “severe” category for over a week as toxic smog blankets the capital city of India, Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Climate Advisor, said:

The human cost of air pollution needs to be avoided at all costs.

Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Climate Advisor

Link between Climate Change and Air Quality

“Climate change and air quality are inextricably linked as the same pollutants that cause climate change harm air quality – putting at risk people’s rights to life and to health, as well as the right to a healthy environment. Marginalised populations such as daily-wage labourers and those living in inadequate housing facilities and with reduced access to healthcare services are disproportionately impacted by pollution-related health risks. 

“The government of India in collaboration with the respective state governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab need to do much more to effectively operationalize their pollution action plan in order to adequately address such a severe public health crisis – one that endangers people’s health and even their lives.

“The issue is not limited to India as pollution levels in neighbouring countries are also rising with at least six cities from the sub-continent leading on the most polluted list globally.

The international community must act and support these countries to safeguard public health and human rights in the entire sub-continent.

Ann Harrison

“The international community must act and support these countries to safeguard public health and human rights in the entire sub-continent, including by providing adequate finance for mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage from high income countries, especially the G20 and high-income fossil fuel producers, particularly those with the greatest historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions which have greater obligations to provide finance.”

Air Pollution Crisis in Delhi

Last week, schools were shut in Delhi as the air quality index in the city hit 500 – the highest the measurement will go and 100 times the limit deemed to be healthy by the World Health Organisation (WHO).  It remained in the “severe” category on Sunday, as a toxic smog blanketed the Indian capital and residents complained of headaches and itchy eyes.

According to the Indian central pollution control board, pollution levels in Delhi in October were at their worst since 2020.

Lahore in Pakistan and Dhaka in Bangladesh are also battling severe pollution levels.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article highlights the severe air pollution in Delhi and its impact on people’s health. It emphasizes the need to protect people from exposure to hazardous air and avoid the human cost of air pollution.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article mentions the need for the government to effectively operationalize their pollution action plan to address the severe public health crisis in Delhi. It also mentions the rising pollution levels in neighboring countries.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article states that climate change and air quality are linked, as the same pollutants that cause climate change harm air quality. It highlights the need for international support to safeguard public health and human rights in the entire sub-continent.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article calls for the international community to support countries in the sub-continent by providing adequate finance for pollution mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. It emphasizes the responsibility of high-income countries and fossil fuel producers to provide finance.

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

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 highlights the need to protect people from exposure to hazardous air in Delhi and surrounding areas, emphasizing the human rights to life and health.

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 mentions the need to address the severe public health crisis in Delhi through effective operationalization of the pollution action plan.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

The article emphasizes the link between climate change and air quality, highlighting the need for international support to safeguard public health and human rights in the sub-continent.

Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development

The article calls for enhanced policy coherence and international support to countries in the sub-continent for pollution mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

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

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

– Air quality index in Delhi and other affected cities: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing deaths and illnesses from hazardous air pollution (Target 3.9) and reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, specifically air quality (Target 11.6).

– Pollution levels in Delhi and other affected cities: This indicator can measure progress towards reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, specifically pollution levels (Target 11.6).

– Impact of climate change on air quality in Delhi and other affected cities: This indicator can measure progress towards strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1).

– International support and finance provided to countries in the sub-continent for pollution mitigation and adaptation: This indicator can measure progress towards enhancing policy coherence and international support for sustainable development (Target 17.14).

Overall, these indicators can help track the effectiveness of actions taken to address air pollution and climate change in the sub-continent.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: amnesty.org

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