By Shreya Kashyap
Last Wednesday, Beijing observed a significant decline in the quality of its air due to the formation of a smog cloud. This formation shot up the air quality index (AQI) of the city well beyond safe levels. Creation of the smog cloud was a result of heavy sandstorms originating from Mongolia coupled with the smog formed due to local anthropogenic factors such as industrial and transport emissions. Nonetheless, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) was able to provide an early warning on the sandstorm dust and a potential smog chokeenabling the regulatory bodies to take up emergency measures in accordance with the citys emergency response action plan. This included the temporarily shutting down of thermal power plants and industries, closing of schools and the provision of precautionary advisories of not stepping out, particularly for senior citizens and children.
How Beijing approached the problem
Air pollution has become a serious issue in various cities across the world, raising significant health and economic flags. Beijing has remained a focal point for discussion around this issuenot only for its worsening air quality over the decade but also for the measures that the city authorities have undertaken to curb air pollution in the last decade. This journey dates back to January 2013 when the city encountered an environmental havoc as a result of natural and anthropogenic pollutant sources. This episode forced the municipal government to develop a comprehensive and time-bound clean air action plan for the city, which included control measures spanning massive investments towards public transportation, implementation of emission standards for power plants and industries, deploying air quality monitoring systems, generating greater awareness on the issue, among other measures. Adequate resources were allocated, and sufficient capacities were built within institutions and implementing agencies to ensure the plans effective implementation. As a result of this, the city has observed an improvement in its ambient air quality over the past five years.
What can Delhi learn from Beijing?
Delhi, which has consistently remained in the WHOs most polluted cities list, has a lot to learn from Beijing when it comes to ways to address this worsening crisis. The winter episodes in Delhi of 2016 and 2017 have brought the issue of air pollution to centre-stage. This vast public awareness and media coverage prompted a special committee to be set up in December 2018 under the Prime Ministers Office. Furthermore, a comprehensive clean air action plan has been prepared and is in the final stages of approval. It is worth learning about Delhi and governments at the national and sub-national level that the plan wont deliver its envisaged outcome unless the implementation capacities are strengthened, and the required systems are put into place. Delhi has a long way to clean air as compared to Beijing, but with Beijings recent episode, it needs to take stronger measures to control its own pollution levels.