5 mn readLahore’s alarming air quality crisis escalates as smog engulfs the city, ranking it the world’s most polluted. With AQI levels soaring past 500, authorities implement drastic measures, including shutting schools and imposing vehicle restrictions, to combat this environmental emergency.
3 mn readWith 9 out of 10 world’s most polluted cities, South Asia has come under the radar of United Nations Environment Programme. Released in December last year, a new World Bank report says worst air pollution in these cities is causing premature deaths across the region each year and incurs significant economic costs. Now the numbers has escalated and according to World Health Organization Report, 14 of India’s cities are on the list of 20 most polluted ones globally. Where India stands 8th with PM 53.3 as for pollution as a country, its 14 cities on the list should be an unsettling information for administration.
3 mn readNumber of people complained of cough and itchy eyes in morning, after Diwali celebration. India celebrated Diwali on 4th November, one of the important festivals considered by Indians. Festival of lights, people celebrate it with sweets, gifts, lighting candles, fireworks, decorations. But due to the present situation of environmental crisis, now the ways of celebrating this festival have been slightly different. According to the information, the air quality index reached 774.69 at 3am on 5th November and an alarming situation 1645 around 1 am, in the capital, New Delhi. Considering the pollution, administration has several times recommended people to stop burning crackers, rather celebrate with other alternatives. And later, from last few years state administrations has taken steps to ban bursting of crackers for not making the condition worse.
3 mn readCovid is not completely ended but had welcomed various effects in different ways. Now complaints are coming from different states about air pollution getting worse due to the burning of Covid patient bodies as the number of deaths in past month were unimaginable in India. People from Pune state, Ranchi and now Delhi living in those areas are expressing their problems due to the cremation of Covid bodies.
4 mn readIn November 2015, it was announced by the UK government that the remaining fourteen coal power stations would be closed by 2025. The most recent to close was Aberthaw Power Station, which shut its doors on 31st March 2020, after half a century of business. At its peak in 2013, the plant generated enough electricity to illuminate 3 million homes every year. Carbon Brief deputy editor Dr Simon Evans tweeted about the closure, “Another UK coal plant is closing. 1,500MW Aberthaw B in Wales to close, citing “challenging” market conditions. Just FOUR remain: Drax, West Burton, Kilroot, and Ratcliffe.”
3 mn readKeeping in mind health, on 9th November National Green Tribunal of India (NGT) decided to announce ban on sale and use of firecracker in the middle of festive season. Diwali is a festival of India that is known for lights and sound. But this season, due to the poor level of air quality in different stactes and seriousness of Covid cases made NGT to declare the total ban on firecrackers.
4 mn readAir pollution costs the UK £20 billion every year. But this just one of many problems for air quality policies in the country. Poor air quality causes approximately 34,000 deaths in the UK annually and there are many sources of pollution the government aims to address.
5 mn readBeing the most vulnerable and falling prey to human cruelty, environment is struggling to survive. From last few years, we are witnessing climate change rapidly and its consequences at a larger scale. From deforestation to emission of hazardous gases, environment is suffering. According to a data mentioned in 2019 World Air Quality Report, India is ranked on 5th position as most polluted country. With an average PM 2.5 concentration measurement of 72.54 µg/m³ in 2018, India managed to bring it down to 58.08 µg/m³ in 2019. But still, the country’s air is considered as unhealthy.
