Rising KashmirRising KashmirRising Kashmir
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022

Categories

  • Anchor
  • Breaking
  • Business
  • City
  • Developing Story
  • Editorial
  • Education
  • Features
  • Health
  • Interview
  • Jammu
  • Jammu and Kashmir News
  • Kashmir
  • Kashmir Tourism
  • Kath Bath
  • National
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • Trending
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Viewpoint
  • World
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Toxic air in Delhi: Experts call for ending fossil fuel reliance; prioritise clean energy
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Search
  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • News
    • Kashmir
    • City
    • Jammu
    • Politics
  • Health
  • Anchor
  • Features
  • Interview
  • Video
Follow US
© 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Rising Kashmir > Blog > Breaking > Toxic air in Delhi: Experts call for ending fossil fuel reliance; prioritise clean energy
Breaking

Toxic air in Delhi: Experts call for ending fossil fuel reliance; prioritise clean energy

ANI
Last updated: November 19, 2024 1:10 pm
ANI
Published: November 19, 2024
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

With Delhi’s air quality once again on hazardous levels, health and climate experts have termed the situation a “public health emergency”, while calling for phasing out of fossil fuels and adopting clean energy solutions.

The capital’s air quality index (AQI) has remained in the “severe” category for days, with PM2.5 concentrations surging past 400 mg/m3 — far beyond the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 15 mg/m3 for 24-hour exposure.

In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), imposing restrictions like bans on truck entry and a halt to public construction projects.

However, health experts argue that such measures are only temporary fixes for a problem that demands deeper, more systemic solutions.

Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, expressed the urgency of tackling air pollution with a multifaceted approach. She was speaking at a press conference in Baku on Health at the Heart of Climate Action: Urgent Call to End Fossil Fuel Reliance.

“Delhi’s air quality index is close to 450 and, on average, has touched 1000 mg/m3 in some areas. The fact that there is no single source of pollution, but a combination of black carbon, ozone, and fumes from burning fossil fuels and farm fires, should push us to adopt multidisciplinary solutions. As temperatures drop in a La Nina year, poor wind circulation leaves pollutants hanging in the air. We need to be urgently responsive to the realities of climate change that the world is facing today,” Khosla said.

The data is clear — air pollution in Delhi and across South Asia has dire health implications.
Prolonged exposure to high levels of PM2.5 — particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream — is linked to severe health outcomes including heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cognitive decline.

According to the State of Global Air 2024, air pollution contributed to 8.1 million premature deaths worldwide in 2021, with 2.1 million occurring in India alone.

Speaking at the conference, Courtney Howard, Vice-Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA), pointed out the staggering financial contradiction in global policies.

“We are giving $1 trillion in subsidies to giant multinational corporations who are making record profits, but we are told there isn’t enough money for health care. We need to fund health and healthcare to preserve health for current and future generations,” Howard said.

The issue of air pollution is not exclusive to Delhi.
Enkhun Byambadorj, Co-Founder of Breathe Mongolia, presented an alarming perspective from his home country.

“We don’t have a winter season, but an air pollution season now in Mongolia. A child living in a city versus a rural area has 40% lower lung function capacity due to air pollution. The narrative in support of fossil fuels focuses on economic growth as the only measure of success. We need to re-frame this narrative. The air we breathe is a choice we make as a society at the expense of our young children and the future of everyone,” Byambadorj said.

Experts have attributed the spike in air pollution levels in Delhi to a reduction in temperature that has led to atmospheric stability. This restricts the dispersion of pollutants. There has also been a surge in fire events over the past two days, contributing to a substantial rise in PM pollution.

Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Malaysia, highlighted the broader regional challenge and said “Delhi’s toxic air is a stark reminder that air pollution is not just an environmental issue–it’s a public health emergency. Millions across South Asia and Southeast Asia are breathing poisoned air due to our dependence on fossil fuels. This isn’t just damaging our lungs; it’s fueling the planetary health crisis, undermining economies, and robbing us of quality years of life.”

Arvind Kumar, a renowned chest surgeon and founder of Lung Care Foundation and Doctors for Clean Air & Climate Action, painted a stark picture of the toll that air pollution takes on human health.

“Polluted air is an invisible killer, infiltrating every breath we take and quietly wreaking havoc on our health. From triggering asthma attacks in children to fueling heart disease, lung cancer, and cognitive decline, emissions impact vulnerable communities the most. We need a concerted political effort to end this catastrophe, phase out fossil fuels, and prioritize clean energy. Without decisive action, we are sacrificing both our health and our future,” Kumar said. (ANI)

 

 

JK polls : “Our priority is to restore statehood,” says Congress President Kharge
National Geographic lists Ladakh’s Suru Valley among world’s 25 best destinations to travel in 2025
“I would like to nominate following people to help strengthen fight against obesity”: PM Modi nominates 10 people including J&K CM Omar Abdullah 
Delhi air quality remains ‘very poor’ at 337 AQI
Asian Games: Anurag Thakur lauds archers Jyothi Surekha, Pravin Ojas for their gold medal win
TAGGED:Air PollutionDelhi

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link Print
Previous Article Authorities Enforce Ban on Minor Students Driving Vehicles in Kashmir 
Next Article J&K Police raids in Awantipora in connection with UAPA case
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

1MFollowersLike
262kFollowersFollow
InstagramFollow
234kSubscribersSubscribe
Google NewsFollow

Latest News

Hyderpora underpass turns into cab stand, sparks safety concerns
City
May 26, 2025
Bear-Proof Corral unveiled to tackle human-wildlife conflict in Drass
Kashmir
May 26, 2025
SACPPE holds session to safeguard children from unexploded shells in Uri
Kashmir
May 26, 2025
‘Prem Visheshagya’ brings laughter to Natrangs’ Sunday theatre
Jammu
May 26, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Hyderpora underpass turns into cab stand, sparks safety concerns
  • Bear-Proof Corral unveiled to tackle human-wildlife conflict in Drass
  • SACPPE holds session to safeguard children from unexploded shells in Uri
  • ‘Prem Visheshagya’ brings laughter to Natrangs’ Sunday theatre
  • Admin spreads awareness on drug abuse in Sgr

Recent Comments

  1. SavePlus on AI and Behavioural Analytics in Gaming: Making the World of Gaming Better
  2. Parul on Govt acknowledges faulty streetlights on Narbal-Tangmarg road
  3. dr gora on Women Veterinarians and the Goal of Viksit Bharat
  4. jalwa game login on National Education Policy 2020: Transforming India’s Educational System
  5. Virender Bhat on Pahalgam Attack: A War on Humanity, Peace, and Kashmiriyat

Contact Us

Flat No 7,Press Enclave, Srinagar, 190001
0194 2477887
9971795706
[email protected]
[email protected]

Quick Link

  • E-Paper
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Top Categories

Stay Connected

1.06MLike
262.5kFollow
InstagramFollow
234.3kSubscribe
WhatsAppFollow
Rising KashmirRising Kashmir
Follow US
© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?