Among several environmental challenges, the world urgently
needs to control air pollution as the ‘invisible killer’ is claiming
approximately seven million lives every year, according to the World Health
Organisation (WHO), making it one of the major causes of mortality worldwide.
Apart from taking human lives, the economic impact of this transboundary crisis
amounts to trillions of dollars each year in the form of lost labour,
healthcare expenses, reduced agricultural output, etc., as claimed by the World
Bank. Air pollution has become so deadly that every nook and corner of the
globe, from big cities to sleepy countrysides, has been badly affected by it
without any discrimination. Wildfires in the US and Australia, industrial
emissions from developed Europe, or volcanic eruptions in Asia—all are
contributing generously to making the prevailing situation worse by increasing
the presence of particulate matter (PM 2.5) along with other greenhouse gases
in the air, which are very harmful for the elderly and children. Poor air
quality worldwide has made these sections vulnerable to various diseases.
Environmentalists have already expressed apprehensions that
if it goes unchecked, within a couple of years from now, the world populace
will struggle hard to breathe fresh air and, as a result, will become prone to
diseases like lung cancer, respiratory ailments, cardiovascular problems, etc.
In this context, it is alarming to note that India is the third most polluted
country, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city in the world,
according to IQ Air’s World Air Quality Report, 2024.
But tackling air pollution is not possible for any single
country, no matter how powerful or rich it may be, as it is not limited to any
particular geographical boundaries. The polluted atmosphere of one nation can
easily spread air pollution to other nations, as the problem is not limited to
its source only. A multi-pronged approach, combined with all necessary
technological support and awareness about the magnitude of the problem, can
only save us. Thus, without wasting any more time, nations should prepare a set
of norms to be followed internationally by all countries, as the pledge of
restricting global temperature cannot be achieved without taming air pollution.
An international law with proper teeth that will be binding
on all nations should be prepared with special emphasis on reducing emissions
by imposing strict air quality standards for industries and other pollutant
sources. At the same time, all possible help should be extended to polluted
nations under the watchful eye of an international institution to help them
come out of the unhealthy situation. All these steps should be taken before any
public health emergency arises due to air pollution that threatens the very existence
of mankind, as ignoring this ticking crisis may prove fatal. It should be
remembered here that isolated efforts to make the air clean will take us
nowhere near solutions. No one should forget that it is our shared
responsibility, and everyone should combat the situation unitedly if we are
sincere about averting an impending environmental crisis.
