Save our planet before it is too late.
The blanket of smog enveloping Lahore, other areas in Punjab, and India’s Delhi is growing thicker and more widespread each year. The smog crisis in late 2024 has been particularly severe, with Lahore repeatedly ranked as the world’s most polluted city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore exceeded 700, while Delhi’s AQI surpassed 400, far above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit.
This toxic air is not just an environmental concern but a health emergency. Hazardous air quality has caused a spike in respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and reduced life expectancy—up to 8.5 years for residents exposed to long-term pollution.
Widespread Impact and Future Risks
Smog severely affects public health, economic productivity, and ecosystems. Prolonged exposure damages crops, disrupts biodiversity, and drives up healthcare costs. If significant interventions are not implemented, the situation could worsen, with larger populations exposed to hazardous conditions and the environment facing irreversible degradation.
Causes of Smog
While smog is caused by various factors like crop residue burning, factory emissions, vehicle smoke, and unfavorable weather patterns, climate change stands out as a significant aggravator that cannot be ignored.
Climate Change: A Catalyst for Smog
Climate change exacerbates smog by altering weather patterns, such as reduced rainfall and longer pollution seasons, that prevent the natural dispersal of pollutants. The overwhelming scientific consensus attributes climate change to human activities, including fossil fuel burning and deforestation, accelerating global warming and disrupting natural systems.
Consequences for Pakistan and South Asia
South Asia, particularly Pakistan, is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Heatwaves, erratic monsoons, glacial melt, and rising sea levels threaten water resources, food security, and public health. The region faces heightened risks of disease outbreaks and economic instability as climate-induced disasters strain limited resources.
The Global Impact of Climate Change
The effects of climate change are not confined to one region—they are a global crisis. Rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, frequent natural disasters, and disruptions to agriculture and food security threaten millions worldwide. Extreme weather events in 2023 alone caused $28 billion in climate-related damages in the U.S., with similar devastation across Pakistan, India, China, and Brazil.
The Human Factor
Scientists emphasize that human-induced activities, such as fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, have been the primary drivers of global warming. The 2023 global temperature was 1.48°C higher than pre-industrial levels, nearing the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Climate Accords. Exceeding this limit could trigger irreversible climate disruptions.
Responsibility of Industrialized Nations
Industrialized nations like the US, Europe, China, and now India bear the brunt of responsibility for carbon emissions. However, the fight against climate change requires global collaboration. All nations must prioritize sustainable practices to prevent devastating consequences, including more severe natural disasters, water shortages, and biodiversity loss.
Overcoming the Challenge
While daunting, climate change can be mitigated through collective action, policy interventions, technological innovation, and global cooperation. By prioritizing sustainability, we can create a resilient future for our planet and generations.
(The author – Ghulam Mustafa Syed is a Karachi-based journalist)