Clearing the Air: Mobilizing Individuals in Developing Nations to Act Against Air Pollution
Last month while out for an evening stroll in Delhi, I encountered a friend wearing an N95 mask. His precautionary measure wasn’t prompted by the resurgence of COVID, but rather as a defense against air pollution. He recounted a chilling diagnosis from his doctor – there were patches in his lungs.
Air pollutants constituting fine particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of 2.5 microns or smaller, or PM 2.5 as they are popularly known, are so small they can enter the lungs and may even penetrate the bloodstream. These particles normally constitute organic carbon matter, elemental carbon, sodium ion, silicon, nitrates, sulphates, ammonia and other crustal matter. However, amid these numerous constituents, one truth remains constant: human health is at risk. The health impacts associated with prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 encompass a range of serious conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory infections such as pneumonia, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even pregnancy-related issues. Human health is the ultimate casualty.
The global toll of air pollution is staggering – over 4 million attributable deaths worldwide. Countries like China and India face the greatest burden of this crisis, with approximately 1.4 million and 0.98 million annual deaths, respectively. Even countries with relatively clean air and lesser air pollutants like Finland and Iceland are not spared, with approximately 385 and 16 deaths, respectively. Despite variations in the amount of air pollutants across countries and regions, their sources, more or less, remain the same and include exhaust from vehicular traffic, fumes from fossil fuel use, industrial dust, waste combustion, and windblown dust. Then there are local factors unique to each country, city and town. While biomass and stubble burning contribute to Delhi’s pollution woes, Helsinki gets some of its air pollutants from the shipping activity in its ports. Socioeconomic disparities exacerbate the problem, with developing nations experiencing a disproportionately higher exposure to these harmful pollutants.
Source: State of Global Air
The economic toll of pollution-related health impact is also significant. According to an article in the Business Standard, air pollution costs Indian businesses around $95 billion every year by way of lost labor productivity, lower consumer footfall, premature mortality, lower asset productivity, increased healthcare expenses, and welfare losses.
What can we do to reduce air pollution and improve our quality of life, especially in the developing world? Much has been written and spoken, yet few things seem to be changing at the desired speed. While governments continue to address this issue, albeit oh-so-slowly, we as individuals can also influence meaningful change by just a couple of lifestyle adjustments rather than a litany of ‘to-do’ lists – curbing vehicular emissions and improving waste segregation should help us make a dent. In Delhi, vehicular emissions contribute around 17% of PM 2.5 pollutants and open waste burning another 5-15%.
Transitioning to electric vehicles and embracing sustainable transportation alternatives can drastically reduce vehicular emissions. If you are planning to buy a new car, consider an electric one. It may be better to buy a smaller electric car within your budget rather than a bigger one that runs on petrol. It will pay you back by way of reduced medical bills in the future. Schools should encourage students to use school buses or public transport. No individual cars should be coming to drop off kids. The same for companies. CEOs need to encourage carpooling or offer incentives to employees who switch to electric vehicles. Working from home for roles that can be remote needs to be encouraged. Public transport should be a given.
Delhi generates over 11,000 tons of solid waste every day. Because it is not segregated, most of it goes to landfills or is burnt, adding to its pollution woes. Let’s start segregating waste in our homes so that municipal authorities can process it properly instead of burning it. Waste segregation and composting initiatives can stem the tide of biomass burning and offer a sustainable solution to waste management.
Our responsibility to address air pollution goes beyond individual actions: it requires harnessing our collective power and striving for a systemic change. We can leverage our voting power and demand accountability from elected officials. We can prioritize air quality as a critical issue on the political agenda. Research shows that concerns about air quality can influence election outcomes, sending a clear message to policymakers that our health is non-negotiable. By casting our votes for candidates who prioritize environmental stewardship, we can drive legislative reforms and institutional changes. In addition, engaging with local representatives and advocating for policy reforms can catalyze transformative action, laying the groundwork for a future where clean air is not a luxury but a fundamental right.
The battle against air pollution demands collective action on a global scale. Let us unite in our resolve to combat this silent killer, reclaim the right to breathe clean air, and safeguard the health of future generations. Our voices matter, our actions count – together, we can clear the air.
About the Author:
Rajan Mehta completed his Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI) fellowship in 2022 from Harvard University, where he focused on Climate Change and the Circular Economy. He has been a serial tech entrepreneur and earlier worked with companies like Motorola and Nortel. He has just set up Climate Action Labs as a foundation to work on industrial and societal transformation towards reducing global warming.