Ghazala Anbreen's work spans energy, journalism, and advocacy; making her a multifaced contributor to important discussions.
Air Pollution: A Vital Environmental Challenge
According to the Health Effects Institute’s State of Global Air report, toxic air pollution shortens average life expectancy by approximately 20 months globally. Air pollution is one of the vital environmental challenges today. It is faced by almost every major city in the world. Large cities have been specifically polluted. Dirty air is choking people all over the world. According to global health estimates, air pollution contributed to approximately 1.2 million deaths in China in 2017. Dirty air causes much harm and affects more people than any viral disease. Repeatedly getting sick because of dirty air weakens the children’s immune system and forces people to move out of the cities to live in clean air in the rural areas.
The World Health Organization uses PM2.5 as a key indicator of air pollution, which consists of tiny solid particles and liquid matter. IQAir also reports air quality rankings based on PM2.5 concentrations. Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events. The loss of property and human lives is a tragic outcome of these intensified weather events.
Why do cities like Dhaka and New Delhi regularly top the list of the most polluted cities in the world? It is common knowledge that the melting of permafrost in the Arctic and the loss of ice in Greenland are alarming, and similarly, our glaciers in the North are also melting at a rapid speed, and in a few years, this may lead to further increases in temperature. 2023 was declared the hottest year in human history; in such a situation, it would be important to know what the bigger cities in the world are doing to overcome air pollution.
Creating a Cleaner Future
Shifting to Cleaner Fuel
The industry should shift to cleaner fuel, and minimizing the use of coal is essential to improve air quality. Beyond industrial changes, investing in renewable energy must be another priority. In the transport sector, increasing the use of electric vehicles and rationing petrol can help significantly reduce emissions. To further lower vehicle pollution, traffic must be reduced to ensure there is room for pedestrians on the roads. Individual efforts, such as switching to eco-friendly stoves and carpooling, are also vital steps. Finally, the government should ensure that all activities producing excessive greenhouse gases are strictly fined.
Installing Sensors and Low-Cost Monitors
There must be more use of sensors to check the air quality in the bigger cities of Pakistan. Also, more low-cost monitors should be installed, and for this, a collaboration of all the relevant stakeholders is essential. What matters is the health of the people, and cities should work together for the attainment of this cause. Metro Services may also be expanded to discourage the use of private cars, as vehicular emissions are one of the biggest causes of air pollution. Electric substitutes for the old-style combustion engines should be introduced, and converting combustion engines to electric engines is the need of the hour.
Even a small reduction in air pollution is beneficial for our health. One measure may include making common the use of cycles, and there must be separate lanes. In Denmark, there are regularly maintained separate lanes for cyclists. Denmark has set global standards for sustainable urban living. Its commitment to cycling is apparent in its infrastructure.
Proper Waste Disposal and Water Recycling
Air pollution is a threat in urban areas, as open dumps and improper waste disposal result in the release of toxic gases that contribute significantly to air pollution. Similarly, water conservation promotes sustainable urban management and indirectly helps reduce pollution that worsens the air quality. As a standard system, various measures can be adopted. Since we do not clean our drains regularly, if the streams and stormwater drains are kept clear, it will help keep the environment clean.
During the monsoon season, the water entering big streams can be drained into the ocean through a pipeline to avoid the hazard of flooding. Rain harvesting must be mandatory. Every large house must have a special tank to store rainwater either on the roofs or underground. For surface water, regional ponds can be made. Recycling water can also significantly reduce freshwater demand and improve urban water security. These problems should be fixed to prepare for the next rainy season and avoid any disaster.
Air emissions are also generated because of open dumps. Dumps must be designed in such a way that they are safe and in agreement with environmental regulations. The technology and designs are very much available, so work on technology transfer must be done. For tackling the issue of open dumps, door-to-door collection of garbage can be carried out. Through a system of electronic monitoring, the trucks containing garbage can be tracked, and in case of improper waste disposal, they must be fined.
Learning From Other Countries
The wise nations plan before the calamity falls. Through a “first-flush” system (this system directs the first rainwater away to keep the stored water clean), the initial contaminated rainwater can be diverted and treated before storing the cleaner runoff. Remaining water can be used for irrigation, dust control, and other purposes. The water that gets accumulated in our streets during rain must be diverted to a reservoir through a proper rainwater drainage system. China and the UK are already doing a relatively good job in this regard.
In Thailand, water is collected during the monsoon in big ceramic vessels and then is used for domestic purposes. Even in Switzerland, harvesting rain and storing it for later use is increasingly encouraged through legislation. In Japan, underground storage systems are used. Los Angeles, once infamous for severe smog, has significantly improved its air quality through sustained regulatory measures. These actions for the improvement of air quality have yielded very good results. Several countries around the world have also implemented carbon pricing mechanisms (policies that make releasing greenhouse gases costly) to reduce emissions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that cycling may be a viable option for daily commuting. The wide use of cycles also reduces maintenance costs while providing health and environmental benefits. For longer travels, electric bikes can be introduced. Reducing car traffic will help lower air pollution. Strategic planning and community engagement are a must to achieve this. Only government efforts to curb emissions are not enough. Active participation from communities and proper regulatory enforcement are key to many problems we face concerning water scarcity and air pollution.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
