Every winter, a dense and persistent haze settles over northern India. For millions of residents in Delhi and nearby regions, the season has turned into a period of masks, sore throats, red eyes, and growing fear due to air pollution.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that air pollution in the country is reaching levels of a health disaster.
Alarming Air Quality Indices
UNEP’s representative in India, Balakrishna Pisupati, explained that an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 400 or 500 is up to 35 times higher than international safety limits. This is air classified as “severe”, dangerous for the entire population.
The situation repeats every November when temperatures drop and winds calm. The cold, dense air traps pollutants like dust, smoke, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhaust gases, forming a toxic layer that stays close to the ground.
Delhi’s geography, partially surrounded by the Himalayas, acts as a natural bowl that prevents the dispersion of pollutants, worsening the crisis.
Multiple and Cumulative Causes
Although much of the public debate focuses on the burning of agricultural waste, UNEP emphasizes that there is no single culprit.
Factors contributing to the crisis include:
- Construction dust.
- Brick kilns and industries.
- Vehicle and diesel emissions.
- Crop burning.
In winter, the atmospheric dispersion mechanism collapses, and all these pollutants accumulate, leading to an annual increase in asthma, bronchitis, cardiovascular tension, and respiratory infections.
Measures Adopted by India
The country has implemented relevant actions:
- Creation of the Commission for Air Quality Management, which coordinates policies between states.
- National Clean Air Programme, focused on reducing pollutant particles.
- Investments in monitoring networks, forecasts, and emergency plans.
However, Pisupati warns that even the strongest policies fail without broad and sustained cooperation.
The Need for Behavioral Change
“Air pollution must be managed year-round and by all actors: governments, industries, households, travelers, civil society, and enforcement agencies. Behavioral change is essential,” emphasized Pisupati.
Compliance remains irregular, and public participation is insufficient. The population needs to reduce burning, manage waste better, reconsider vehicle use, and assume community responsibility.
Three Pillars for the Solution
UNEP proposes a strategy based on three axes:
- Policy coherence between ministries: avoid subsidies for polluting activities while trying to reduce emissions.
- Cooperation between states: air recognizes no borders, regional coordination is essential.
- People-centered model: industries, micro-enterprises, civil society, youth, media, and health professionals must work together.
In this framework, the Air Quality Action Forum was launched, a collaborative platform between sectors to promote technological, operational, and behavioral solutions.
Energy Transition and COP30
India is advancing in its climate transition, positioning itself as one of the largest adopters of renewable energies and surpassing some 2030 targets ahead of schedule. However, air pollution persists as a structural challenge.
Pisupati reflected on the recent COP30:
“It may not be the perfect package, but some action is better than no action. We must see COP30 as a combination of islands of success.”
The air crisis in India is a national-scale environmental and health problem, exacerbated by geographical and social factors. Although there are policies and programs, the key lies in institutional coherence, regional cooperation, and citizen behavioral change.
Delhi’s toxic winter is a reminder that air pollution recognizes no borders or seasons, and addressing it requires a collective and sustained effort.
