Fixing Delhi’s air: Lessons from the developing world

Delhiites are once again enduring days of deadly pollution. With winter setting in, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has spiked into the 'severe-plus' category, exceeding 450 on several days. A combination of heavy pollution, lack of rain, high humidity, stagnant winds, and low temperatures have made New Delhi surpass Lahore in Pakistan as the most polluted city in the world on certain days in November.

Although the pollution levels have slightly improved with the advent of December, the National Capital Region (NCR) is blanketed by a dense layer of smog and mist, raising apprehensions among all sections of society.

“Coming back to Delhi from Wayanad, where the air is beautiful and the AQI is 35, was like entering a gas chamber. It’s practically impossible to breathe, especially for kids, elders and those with respiratory issues,” posted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on X after returning to her hometown following the bypoll campaign in Kerala.

While extreme pollution grabs headlines during winter, Delhiites are forced to breathe toxic air for over 300 days a year. Hospitals have established specialised 'pollution-related illness clinics' to address the rising health crisis caused by deteriorating air quality.

Despite ongoing governmental efforts to control pollution, there is significant public concern that India’s iconic capital, New Delhi, may soon become ‘uninhabitable’ due to the high health risks posed by its alarming pollution levels.

Is New Delhi's fate sealed, or can it still turn the tide? Two national capitals in the developing world, once synonymous with hazardous air quality, have dramatically improved their air standards to moderate levels, offering hope and strategies for other cities.

The Beijing model
By the late 2000s, Beijing's air quality had deteriorated due to China’s rapid industrialisation, population growth, and a surge in vehicles. On many days, the Chinese capital became a choking, almost invisible city, and at Tiananmen Square, the portrait of Chairman Mao was barely visible behind the guarding soldier.

In December 2015, when the Chinese president travelled to Paris for the UN Climate Change Conference, the Air Quality Index in many parts of Beijing crossed 500. Things reached a point where many American companies operating in Beijing and other Chinese cities found it difficult to invite senior management professionals due to the hazardous air quality. The tourism industry was also severely affected, forcing the government to intervene to protect the economy.

China launched a ‘war against pollution’ by enacting stricter policies and allocating substantial funds to improve air quality in its national capital. Chinese President Xi Jinping stated at an APEC meeting that the first thing he does each morning is to check the air quality.

The Chinese government even resorted to authoritarian policies, which, as evidenced by a study from the University of Chicago, led to extreme measures, such as “at one point, many households were left without heat during winter after removing coal boilers before natural gas or electric replacements could be installed.”

The war eventually succeeded. Although home to numerous emission-heavy industries as the world's 'manufacturing hub,' China had reduced air pollution levels, including particulate exposure, by half as of 2021. The once-lost 'lasting blue skies' have finally returned to Beijing, and the AQI levels for 2024 are mostly moderate.

Mexican waves
Another national capital that successfully combated air pollution is Mexico City, which in the 1980s and early 1990s was one of the most polluted urban areas in the world. The nation's capital is naturally prone to pollution crises, situated at 2,240 metres near several active volcanoes with lower atmospheric oxygen levels.

Major air pollutants like carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide,sulphur dioxide, and airborne particles were at record levels in Mexico City, causing birds to perish mid-flight and fall from the sky.

In 1992, a new blueprint for international environmental action was formulated at the historic Earth Summit, and the United Nations declared: “Mexico City is the most polluted city on the planet.”

Echoing their football team's spirited and consistent approach, Mexicans launched a determined effort to combat pollution. Toward the end of the last century, the Mexican government implemented detailed measures to reduce air pollution in the capital and surrounding municipalities, home to nearly 20 million people.

By incorporating a public policy-integrated approach and actively engaging the local community, the Mexican government implemented and enforced a series of regulations for air quality control and emissions.

The government decided to "replace the city's soot-belching old cars, remove lead from gasoline, embrace natural gas, expand public transportation, and relocate refineries and factories," to quote from a Washington Post report titled ‘Mexico City Drastically Reduced Air Pollutants since the 1990s.’

Special attempts were also made to minimise the open burning of agricultural waste through prevention workshops for farmers, the creation of buffer zones, and the treatment of controlled burns. The battle finally paid off, as, over the years, the air quality in Mexico City improved significantly. If we examine the list of the world’s most polluted cities, Mexico City won’t be in the top 100.

Enforcement: The real solution
The drastic decline in Delhi's air quality has sparked a surge in 'Pollution Politics,' with politicians arguing over who is responsible for the pollution crisis. To date, beyond shifting blame, there has been a clear lack of political will and effective enforcement mechanisms to improve air quality in the NCR.

Perhaps, the best illustration is the construction sector, the largest contributor of particulate matter to the atmosphere, especially PM10 and PM2.5. What stands out is the absence of anti-smog guns, which have been made mandatory at all construction sites.

“If you audit the construction sites, you will clearly see that none of the guidelines is being implemented on the ground,” said Dr Anju Goel, Associate Director of Air Quality Research at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, to a news channel.

The United Residents Joint Action of Delhi is already protesting against the improper implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a framework designed to combat air pollution. The Supreme Court of India recently observed that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), constituted in 2021 and backed by significant expenditure, has not served its purpose.

Now is the right time to launch a ‘War for Delhi,’ as the latest estimates show that the contribution of stubble burning from neighbouring states has declined substantially, currently standing at under 5 per cent. This means that Delhi's pollution crisis is predominantly a home-grown issue and can be tackled internally.

The Indian government must treat air pollution not as an insurmountable crisis but as a solvable problem requiring focused and sustained action. The success stories of Beijing and Mexico City stand as powerful examples, demonstrating that even the worst air pollution crises can be mitigated – and even reversed –with strong political will and decisive action. Effective solutions lie in implementing the right systems and ensuring strict enforcement.

(Social anthropologist and novelist Thomas Sajan and US-trained neurologist Titto Idicula, based in Norway, write on politics, culture, economy, and medicine.)