Sulphur dioxides, nitrogen dioxides, carbon dioxide – these are a few compounds which lead to air pollution. These are the same compounds which spark concern in every country across the globe, as governments scramble to limit the impacts of the climate crisis. So, what’s different in India?
A drive on the Ahmedabad Express Highway will quench your curiosity. The pungent smell of particles in the air seeps into the thousands of cars which wait patiently in the stand-still traffic. As a foreigner the smell is surprising but is apparently a ‘common occurrence’ for local residents.
Its growing population, currently at 8.3 million, inevitably plays a huge part in this; furthermore, its population density of 9,900 people per square km is almost twice that of London. As a result, roads and highways are more densely packed which leads to more traffic, thus causing greenhouse gasses to be released into the atmosphere in greater quantities. A lack of investment in public transport is perhaps partly to blame – there around 4.8 million vehicles registered in Ahmedabad, almost double that of London.
The images above were taken during journeys to and from Ahmedabad respectively at 1pm and 10pm. Neither of those times are during the city’s rush hour, yet traffic was evidently existent at all times of the day, albeit slightly less insufferable than rush hour times. A straightforward conclusion can be made that greenhouse gas emissions and therefore pollution are a constant if you are a city-dweller in India’s metropolises.
Whilst air pollution in London is one of its major problems, in Ahmedabad, it is becoming one that is irreversible. These emissions also have global effects, causing changes in temperature patterns across the world, leading to extreme weather events becoming more and more frequent.
Pollution also poses several health issues, one of which is the increased likelihood of respiratory diseases, a problem which, in London, the Mayor attempted to address through the implementation of the ULEZ. In Gujarat, the state in which Ahmedabad resides, high levels of pollution have led to over 50,000 premature deaths. So, what can the government do to rectify these issues and build a better, healthier city?
Alternative energy use is one answer – solar panels can produce a lot of energy during the day, given the high solar insolation the country receives. However, education and simply awareness are two key components which determine the effectiveness of these government strategies.
Reducing waste going to landfill, for instance, can only be done with the cooperation of the public and their understanding of the wider environmental context behind government strategies. Informing those who are perhaps ignorant of the crisis at hand is necessary if Ahmedabad (and India) has any chance of saving itself from the impending threats global warming poses.
Climate change is something that just cannot be ignored: India’s economic growth has carried with it the burden of an increasingly deteriorating environment. However small the steps, Ahmedabad along with the rest of India must work towards forming more environmentally and therefore more socially sustainable societies.
Whether it is through using cleaner energy sources, or by educating the population something must be done, so future generations are not left with a crumbling country and a frightening future.
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