04 June 2019, Kathmandu
Every year World Environment Day is organized on June 5, around the world with a theme that focuses attention on a particular environmental concern. The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries.
“Beat Air Pollution”, the theme for 2019 is a call to action call to combat this global crisis. Chosen by this year’s host, China, this year’s topic invites us all to consider how we can change our everyday lives to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce, and thwart its contribution to global warming and its effects on our own health.
Approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific. World Environment Day 2019 will urge governments, industry, communities, and individuals to come together to explore renewable energy and green technologies, and improve air quality in cities and regions across the world.
Some facts about air pollution that one must not underestimate are:
Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs.
Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 per cent by 2030.
92 per cent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air.
The Major Causes of Air Pollution
Air pollution is everywhere but, often we can’t even see it. Nine out of ten people worldwide are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed safe levels set by the World Health Organization. Understanding the different types of pollution, and how it affects our health and environment will help us take steps towards improving the air around us. The root of air pollution are shown below:
Household – The main source of household air pollution is the indoor burning of fossil fuels, wood and other biomass-based fuels to cook, heat and light homes. Around 3.8 million premature deaths are caused by indoor air pollution each year, the vast majority of them in the developing world.
Agriculture – There are two major sources of air pollution from agriculture: livestock, which produces methane and ammonia, and the burning of agricultural waste. Around 24 percent of all greenhouse gases emitted worldwide come agriculture, forestry and other land-use.
Industry – In many countries, energy production is a leading source of air pollution. Coal-burning power plants are a major contributor, while diesel generators are a growing concern in off-grid areas.
Waste – Open waste burning and organic waste in landfills release harmful dioxins, furans, methane, and black carbon into the atmosphere. Globally, an estimated 40 percent of waste is openly burned.
Transport – The global transport sector accounts for almost one-quarter of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and this proportion is rising. Transport emissions have been linked to nearly 400,000 premature deaths.
Other sources – Not all air pollution comes from human activity. Volcanic eruptions, dust storms and other natural processes also cause problems. Sand and dust storms are particularly concerning.
Environmental Condition in Nepal
Nepal hosts some of the most spectacular natural areas and biodiversity in the world. Home to the planet’s highest peak, Nepal also boasts 118 ecosystems, 75 categories of vegetation, and 35 types of forest. These resources are increasingly at risk. The people of Nepal, particularly the rural poor, are directly dependent on natural resources for survival, and a significant portion of Nepal’s economy comes from climate-sensitive industries such as agriculture, forestry, and eco-tourism. As a result of both the considerable biodiversity and economic and geographic profile, Nepal is ranked 13th in the world in terms of climate change vulnerability (Source: 2017 Climate Change Risk Atlas). Nepal’s performance seems to be worst when it comes to protecting environment and combating air pollution. Nepal is among the bottom five countries on the Environmental Performance Index 2018, plummeting 27 points from 149 in 2016, according to a biennial report by Yale and Columbia Universities along with the World Economic Forum.
Nepal’s air quality was recently reported as the worst in the South Asia region. Air pollution in Nepal, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley, has emerged as a serious environmental health risk. Most of air pollution-related deaths are from non-communicable diseases and in terms of global disease burden, air pollution is the cause of over one-third deaths from stroke, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, says the WHO. One-quarter of deaths occur due to ischemic heart disease. According to a WHO report, nearly 740 people died from acute lower respiratory infection, 1,770 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, 932 from lung cancer, 3,328 from ischemic heart disease and 3,183 from stroke in Nepal in 2016.
While air pollution spares none, children under the age of five with their young organs, immune systems and brains are particularly vulnerable at that stage of development. Two reports from the WHO last year offered new insights into how serious a risk the rising air pollution poses. Lack of sanitation, unsafe water and air pollution claim 1.7 million young lives every year, the reports said. As a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which includes several ambitious targets to reduce air pollution related death by 2030, Nepal needs to step up efforts to combat air pollution.
According to the data of World Health Organisation, nearly 9,943 people in the country die each year of diseases caused by air pollution. Similarly, a report of World Bank shows that 22,038 Nepali nationals over the world die each year due to diseases caused by air pollution.
Mitigating Measures
Though, the National Health Policy of Nepal – 2014 has included ‘air pollution’ as a priority research/public health agenda that is guaranteed by the Constitution, we are still lagging behind for its implementation. There are some urgent needs which the Government of Nepal should immediately fulfill such as assurance of reliable public transport, subsidisation for less hazardous alternative cooking fuels, promotion of cycling insuring construction of sub-way for cycling, heavily reducing tax for importing green energy vehicles along with speeding up forestation programmes.
Sustainability is the key to prevent or reduce the effect of environmental issues. There is now clear scientific evidence that humanity is living unsustainably, and that an unprecedented collective effort is needed to return human use of natural resources to within sustainable limits.
Immediate prohibition of open burning of waste.
Shift mobility in the Kathmandu Valley towards a sustainable transport system with more investments to improve public transport.
Investments to improve and expand sidewalks and bike lanes.
Separation of waste (for composting, biogas, recycling, and reusing) at source from all levels.
Provision of effective methods, equipment, and capacities (such as emissions measurement and environmental monitoring) to authorities.
Investments in green parks and corridors for shading and cooling.
Easier and smoother financial support to existing operators (private companies or cooperatives) to convert to electric vehicles.
Promotion of policies that make driving more restrictive in the inner core of the city, especially heritage areas.
Promotion of electric vehicles by import tax and road tax rebate.
Conducting social programs to reduce child labor, occupational safety, and health measures.
Shift from traditional brick-making technologies to cleaner ones.
Development of industrial parks to accommodate industries on flood-free land.
Strong use of cleaner fuels for cooking at the households of Kathmandu Valley, such as electricity and LPG, as this could not only harvest large health benefits but also help tackle air pollution, indoors and outdoors.
While talking about accountabilities of the government and other stakeholders, we should not forget our own role from the individual or family level for the environmental promotion. It is time to realise that the duties and responsibilities for the improvement of our environment are confined not only to the government. We humans, the supreme creature of the world, are the solely responsible being for whatever environmental degradation has taken place.
