How Climate Change Exacerbates Air Pollution in Indian Cities and Impacts Public Health
Last Updated:
The United Nations recently declared that global average temperatures have increased by 1.2°C between 2014 and 2023 compared to the pre-industrial era (before the 1850s).
Countries like India could institute their own carbon tax on exports of CBAM products destined for the EU or any country imposing a carbon border tax. (Representative image)
Earth’s climate history has been quite dramatic. Over the past 800,000 years, Earth has experienced eight cycles ranging from warmer periods to ice ages. The last ice age ended 11,700 years ago, marking the beginning of the modern climate we see today and enabling the rise of human civilization. While these historical climate changes were caused by minor variations in Earth’s orbit affecting solar energy received, we are currently witnessing another major shift, raising questions about whether orbital changes are involved.
Dr. Sanju Purohit, Associate Professor (Volunteer) at Akamai University, USA, and a Research Fellow at the Women Researcher Council at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), explains, “The current climate change results from human activities that intensified post mid-1800s. Such climate change was unprecedented in previous millennia, prompting scientists to investigate its causes. They found that atmospheric gases produced by human activities trap the Sun’s energy in the atmosphere, warming the land, atmosphere, and oceans, leading to rapid changes globally.”
The United Nations recently declared that global average temperatures have increased by 1.2°C between 2014 and 2023 compared to the pre-industrial era (before the 1850s). Worryingly, 2023 was the warmest year on record, with a global average surface temperature increase of 1.45°C from the pre-industrial baseline. Unsurprisingly, the decade from 2011 to 2020 was the warmest recorded, affecting both land and ocean.
“This climate change brings more frequent heatwaves, which disrupt natural temperature dispersion, leading to prolonged periods of elevated temperatures. Rising temperatures cause glacial melting in the Himalayas, resulting in floods and droughts in various regions. Climate change also disrupts the Indian monsoon, while higher temperatures accelerate ground-level ozone formation. Since ozone is a key component of smog, this worsens air quality in Indian cities where pollution levels are already high,” adds Dr. Purohit.
Additionally, monsoon disruptions lead to reduced rainfall, causing prolonged dry spells that prevent the natural clearing of air pollutants, resulting in hazardous pollution levels, particularly in northern India at year-end. “Frequent droughts lead to dust storms, worsening air quality due to increased particulate matter. Forest fires in the Himalayas and crop residue burning further aggravate pollution,” says Dr. Purohit.
A newer phenomenon observed is urban heat islands, where urban areas exhibit higher temperatures than their surroundings. This is due to factors like increased energy demand for cooling, which further raises city temperatures. The declining air quality in urban areas poses serious health risks.
Climate change also has significant health implications, including premature mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, skin cancer, and mental health issues. While we all know simple ways to positively impact our planet, we must be more consistent in efforts such as avoiding plastic, conserving energy, switching to electric vehicles, and prioritizing sustainable practices not only for personal needs but also in industry.
Leave a Reply