Why is South Asia the most polluted?

Alarming air pollution is disrupting the lives of millions of people in South Asia, forcing schools to close, affecting many sporting events and prompting governments to urge people to stay home to avoid health problems, according to The Hindu Times.

Pollution status

Swiss air quality monitoring service IQAir has ranked India's New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital for the fourth year in a row. Meanwhile, Lahore, Pakistan's second most populous city, has ordered schools, parks and shopping malls to close this week after the air quality index (AQI) spiked above 400 this week, according to Reuters.

City in India "submerged" in smog

AA cited a 2021 study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (USA) saying that bad air can reduce the average life expectancy of people in South Asia by up to 5 years, of which those living in New Delhi are at risk of losing up to 9 years. The report also showed that each of India's 1.4 billion people is exposed to average annual pollution levels that exceed the limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

India’s health system has seen a rise in pollution-related respiratory illnesses, including coughs, sore throats and breathing difficulties. Meanwhile, smog is also the second-highest risk factor for non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and acute respiratory problems.

Unsuccessful efforts

Although governments in South Asia have sought to curb pollution, these efforts have not yielded significant results. Rapid industrialization, economic development and population growth over the past two decades have led to increased demand for energy and fossil fuels.

The increase in the number of vehicles on the road has also exacerbated the pollution problem. In India and Pakistan alone, the number of vehicles has quadrupled since the early 2000s.

In addition, experts say the problem lies in the lack of coordination in pollution control efforts between countries. In particular, the parties have not yet found a common solution to limit the burning of copper and solid fuels.

Burning of fields has made pollution in India worse.

Traditionally, at the end of the year after the winter harvest, millions of farmers clear their fields of leftover rice stubble by setting them on fire in preparation for the upcoming wheat crop. This, combined with vehicle and industrial pollution, has created thick smog across the northern Indian states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi, CNN reported.

About 38% of New Delhi’s pollution this year has been caused by stubble burning, Reuters reported, citing studies that show tiny particles can travel hundreds of miles across borders and impact many neighboring countries. About 30% of the smog in Bangladesh’s biggest cities originates in India, carried by winds that move from northwest to southeast.

What is the solution?

South Asian countries will have to work together to tackle the region’s pollution problems, as well as cooperate to improve monitoring and make common decisions. At the same time, efforts must be balanced by assessing the factors that influence them to find solutions that are appropriate to local conditions.

The focus should also be broadened to include hitherto underserved sectors such as agriculture and waste management. To curb field burning, the government could increase subsidies for stubble-clearing machines for farmers, Reuters reported. India has already started implementing this solution and has had some significant impact, but the availability of stubble-clearing machines remains limited due to high rental costs and long waiting times.

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