How we can stop breathing poison by fighting climate change

Stopping the winter smog that envelops the plains of South Asia will be a significant step in combating climate change. Just like the Southeast Asian haze, the South Asian smog smothers and sickens millions across state and national boundaries. The green house gases (GHGs) emitted in the field fires and from vehicles contribute directly to global warming. Following Diwali this year, the smog in the national capital region (NCR) was worse than ever and the air quality toxic.

This is a situation that repeats itself annually. It foments communal tensions and hogs headlines. Yet, it is forgotten during the rest of the year but becomes news when it smothers the capital. Only when planes are grounded and road accidents take place as a result of the smog does this issue become news. Yet air quality in most major South Asian metros are bad most days, and Delhi this year is yet to have a good air day.

Despite the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) in place since April last year, real effort to control air pollution is lacking. Now the usual hullabaloo over "crackers being the main cause" notwithstanding, a region-wide effort to tackle the sources of pollution is essential. UN environment chief Erik Solheim's words when he was in India cleaning the shores of Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti resonate in this context as well.

He emphasised that pollution and the related health problems and debt are common to cities across the Asia-Pacific region. The capitals of India, China and even Nepal are some of the worst affected. Fighting local pollution being linked with fighting climate change would get better results. And these linkages could be easily communicated to the layperson in any language without worrying about the climate jargon.

Burning post-harvest to clear the fields in Punjab and Haryana contributes significantly to the smog. As do the polluting heavy vehicles that traverse the national highways and state highways in the region, in general, and New Delhi in particular. And the final ingredient is the weather condition. Now burning post-harvest fields to clear them destroys the soil quality. A well-managed soil can trap carbon. It is powerful enough to serve as a carbon sink that can neutralise carbon emissions. Desertification and soil erosion are serious threats to food security as they affect soil fertility and productivity.

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Fires in fields and forests destabilise soil systems, consequently stopping this protects soil fertility. Incentivising selling post-harvest residue as fodder could ensure both incomes and food for the cattle, while arresting a prime cause of the smog. The uncontrollable forest fires of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in early summer this year were a small taste of the devastation of fires. The Southeast Asian haze is another horrible example. It causes international disputes, emits tonnes of carbon, and destroys rainforests to clear more land for palm plantations! Already the smog situation is not restricted to India. Lahore woke up to smog just like New Delhi. Seasonal dust-storms are also adding to the air quality crisis in the region. Thus it's long past time to act.

Stop-gap measures are now in place in NCR to bring down the level of particulate pollutants and improve its air quality. Restricting heavy vehicles' entry; the odd-even scheme for private vehicles; calling for state and national cabinet meetings to deal with the emergency. A permanent solution is possible with a little political will and by communicating the benefits to the polluters. While the odd-even scheme was partially successful in the capital, for complete success, alternative eco-friendly yet safe and affordable means of transport need to be arranged. Pilot projects involving electric and solar autos, buses, and water ferries are in place in various parts of the country. Scaling them up and replacing fleets with these eco-friendly alternatives could generate employment as well as benefit air quality.

Yes, crackers cause noise and air pollution, affect animals and birds and exacerbate existing lifestyle disorders such as blood pressure, asthma, et al. Yet the effects of three-day festival, however excessive, can't compare with daily and seasonal air pollution from vehicular pollution and field fires. The pollution from Diwali crackers can be easily countered by regulating the sales - maybe by implementing a quota system, in addition to the myriad "green Diwali" campaigns. Yet the habitual causes need to be addressed first to ensure good air days for the capital and beyond.