All of us can do our part to reduce smog by changing our behaviour pattern

If Earth were a human, it would already be in the emergency room pleading for its safety. We live on a planet that only values the here and now, but ensuring that our planet remains healthy, sustainable, and inhabitable for generations and generations must be the aim. But the question is are we working towards it or is it the human greed towards leading a luxurious life that is drifting us apart from working towards climate crisis and other destruction activities?

It is just the onset of winter, and the northern part of India has already started to experience the worst air quality of the year i.e. the Smog. Smog also referred to as smoke fog is a type of intense air pollution that reduces visibility. India is the second most polluted country on the planet and its capital Delhi the most polluted capital. According to the Indian government study, Winter fog in Delhi is a toxic cocktail of pollutants.

Every year, Delhi and its neighbouring cities start to become dystopian, a few weeks before Diwali, and this continues for around a month after the festival of lights too. There are a variety of factors that contribute to the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR. The very first is the high dependency on fossil fuels. The burning of rice straw by the farmers of Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh makes the air of northern India unbreathable as the significant emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere contributes to around 56 per cent of PM 10 and PM 2.5. followed by extensive construction activities which increases the dust. Also, the pollution from vehicular movements such as trucks and lorries add further to it making the air of northern India vulnerable and prone to diseases. This even reduces the visibility on roads and results in road accidents and cancellation of flights too.

Furthermore, the smog irritates the eyes and throat causing allergies and damage to the eyes, ears, and lungs. The inhalation of the polluted air by the children affects their ability to fight off infection, leading them to more frequent asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses. Moreover, smog is even dangerous for the elderly as their bodies are less able to compensate for the effects of environmental hazards. Also, people of all age groups should avoid or reduce strenuous physical activities and instead consider exercising indoors.

Research has shown that creating more green space in our surrounding environment can make our brains and nervous systems function more easily and effectively. In a world of smog and air pollution, one must create and immerse themselves in green spaces. All of us can do our part to reduce smog by changing or adopting a few behaviours such as reducing the number of trips in the personal car and instead opting for the use of public transportation or carpooling whenever possible; getting regular tune-ups, changing oil when scheduled as they improve the mileage and reduce emissions too; avoiding products that release high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); Using electric appliances instead of gas-powered lawn equipment’s; reducing or eliminating fireplaces and using wood stove instead and many more. At the grassroots level, transportation electrification and vehicle fleet modernization are effective methods for improving air quality in Indian cities followed by limiting access to outdoor activities.

In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, “The one who plants trees, knowing that he or she will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.”

Remember, taking climate action and investing in conservation is our responsibility to future generations. Nature has given us all so much and it is our obligation to steward what we have so we leave behind a liveable, healthy planet for all.

 (The writer is an educator, views are personal)