In October to November 2024, air quality in the Indoangangic plain region (IGP) significantly deteriorated to a critical level, particularly in the vicinity of the Punjab region.
The governments on both sides are making efforts to address this problem, but it is complex and needs a collective and collaborative regional effort to save people’s health, in particular babies and elders who are more vulnerable to air pollution.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Prime Minister of Pakistan, proposed “climatic diplomacy” between Punjab Indio and Pakistaní on the issue of air pollution. The declaration of Prime Minister Sharif was made in the context of the annual increase in air pollution that occurs in the region of Northern PPIs during the months of October and November.
This is caused by air pollution throughout the year in both countries, but the roof peaks during the start of winter are due to the burning of seasonal crops.
The Historically unprecedented AQI levels last year, in some places for several days, were also due to changes in unusual large -scale wind circulation linked to NINA under the influence of climate change.
The reality of the impacts on the health of air pollution in human life, agricultural production and flora and fauna is serious. WHO informs us that more than nine million people prematurely lose their lives due to air pollution every year. Most of these deaths occur in Asian and African cities due to air pollution by transport, energy production and industrial emissions.
Millions of people in South Asia run the risk of losing their lives every year due to air pollution. Crop productivity is also suffocated by air pollution, which leads to the fall in agricultural income. The cattle are also affected by air pollution, although this area needs more study.
Air pollution in southern Asia is not a specific problem in the city or the country. It is also a regional problem that will worsen unless it is addressed at all levels. It is incumbent to the states of the IGP slaughter, that is, India and Pakistan, act to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
Air pollution does not respect borders, and a cross -border approach to the air association, based on data, to address air pollution, is necessary. It is in this spirit that an agenda and a course of action for cooperation on regional air pollution are expected.
The joint action of India and Pakistan to reduce air pollution can lead to health benefits on both sides.
A dialogue between the environment, air pollution, energy, transport and health experts of both countries can and should be convened. Common problems in this dialogue should include improved investigation and monitoring of air quality, sharing knowledge that also includes climatic data.
Ideally, experts, scientists and research institutions must participate in both countries in data collection and to achieve desired solutions based on research for mutual benefits to save the lives of people affected on both sides of the border.
According to scientific findings, energy production based on fossil fuels is an important cause of deteriorating air quality in urban agglomerations in our countries. The roads for transition to cleaner energy, especially renewable energy, should be discussed not only in the context of India and Pakistan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement but also to improve air quality in the region.
India has advanced strong in the transition to electric vehicles in the transport sector, the quality of fuel and alternative fuel such as PNG and now hydrogen, among others. However, to deal with cross -border pollution generated mainly from fossil fuel combustion, it is essential to work within the full air plate for a significant result.
Both countries can also learn from the experience of others in the control of car emissions and improve fuel quality. The first step should be to develop a high resolution emission inventory of the main pollutants throughout the air cock region that covers both countries near border areas instead of focusing on cities or states.
Seasonal crops is still a problem that neither India nor Pakistan has been able to address effectively. A air pollution summit can be a forum to share challenges in the introduction of floor seed machines, as well as other options, such as crop rotation or crop replacement. A dialogue can also be an opportunity to elaborate a mechanism for articular monitoring of crop burning.
The most important thing is that a dialogue can gather health experts to discuss the multiple impacts of air pollution on citizens’ health, especially children and older people. The collection of improved and more accessible data on the impacts on the public health of air pollution can be a catalyst so that political leaders make important decisions, often already expensive, necessary to improve air quality.
Finally, a dialogue can draw a shared strategy to monitor and reduce crops, find technological alternatives and discourage traditional practices through incentive -based mechanisms; You can also agree on a vision, objective and schedule to improve air quality.
Cities and countries that have faced and approached air pollution in the past have had a common thing: a strong vision of civil society of a future of clean air that is more sustainable than the five -year electoral cycle.
We believe that an air pollution dialog would be a manifestation of that vision. While this dialogue may not lead to a better air quality, not in the short term, at least, it will be an opportunity to share good will among neighbors, the good will that could encourage impulse in other areas of diplomacy. The exchange of long -term best practices can also reduce hostilities and mitigate the distrust that exists between neighbors.
In a few weeks, as winter dissipates, air pollution levels will fall, although nowhere near acceptable levels, and this problem will be kicked on the road until the beginning of next winter.
By not dealing with air pollution as a regional emergency of health pollution throughout the year, policy formulators on both sides of the border are losing sight of the fact that early and coordinated action is now the best way to improve air quality in the future.
Writers are environmental lawyers based in New Delhi and Lahore, respectively.
Posted in Dawn, February 8, 2025
