The thick, suffocating smog that blankets the skies of South Asia each year has become one of the most visible and pressing environmental crises of our time. For millions of people in Pakistan and India, the arrival of winter marks not just a seasonal shift but the beginning of a looming health emergency. What was once a seasonal inconvenience has now transformed into an alarming global issue, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation to combat the escalating threat of climate change.
### The Smog Crisis: A Growing Threat
In recent years, smog levels in cities like New Delhi, Lahore, and Karachi have reached alarming heights, disrupting daily life, endangering public health, and causing widespread economic losses. The toxic haze, a dangerous blend of smoke, industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and crop-burning residues, has made these cities some of the most polluted in the world. The effects of this seasonal smog are far-reaching, impacting everything from air quality to the economy, agriculture, and even public safety.
The 2023 winter smog season in India and Pakistan has been one of the worst on record, with air quality indexes (AQI) in many cities reaching hazardous levels. In New Delhi, for instance, the AQI surpassed 500, indicating an environment where breathing without a mask can be life-threatening. In Pakistan, cities like Lahore and Karachi also face similarly dire conditions, with smog levels often making outdoor activities unsafe and leading to a surge in respiratory illnesses.
This persistent haze is not merely a regional nuisance—it is a global alarm bell. The growing frequency and intensity of smog episodes in South Asia are a direct result of escalating climate change, urbanization, and unchecked industrial growth. As global temperatures rise, these events are becoming more extreme, lasting longer, and affecting larger populations. The question now is not just how we will cope, but how we will prevent future catastrophes.
### The Main Causes of Smog in Pakistan and India
Several factors contribute to the formation of smog in South Asia, and these are exacerbated by both local practices and global climate change. Key contributors to the smog crisis include:
#### 1. **Crop Burning**
Each winter, large-scale crop burning in northern India and parts of Pakistan significantly contributes to the smog. Farmers, particularly in Punjab, burn stubble after the harvest to quickly clear their fields for the next crop. This practice, while cost-effective, releases vast amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and other harmful gases into the atmosphere. During the winter months, favorable meteorological conditions—such as low wind speeds and cooler temperatures—trap these pollutants close to the ground, creating dense, dangerous smog. The pollution from crop burning often drifts into neighboring cities like New Delhi and Lahore, worsening the air quality in both countries.
#### 2. **Vehicular Emissions**
The rapidly growing urban populations in Pakistan and India have led to a surge in vehicular traffic, which is a major contributor to air pollution. Old, poorly maintained vehicles with inefficient engines emit high levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter. During the colder months, the lower atmospheric temperatures prevent pollutants from dispersing, allowing vehicle emissions to accumulate and intensify smog formation. In cities like New Delhi, where traffic congestion is notorious, the impact of these emissions is particularly severe.
#### 3. **Industrial Pollution**
Both India and Pakistan have a large number of industrial facilities, including cement factories, power plants, and chemical manufacturing plants, many of which rely on coal as an energy source. Coal combustion releases vast amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the air, contributing significantly to the formation of smog. Furthermore, lax environmental regulations and the limited implementation of cleaner technologies in many industries exacerbate the problem. This industrial pollution is particularly concentrated in urban areas, where factories are often located near residential zones, making millions of people vulnerable to its health effects.
#### 4. **Burning of Household Waste**
In many areas, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods, burning household waste is a common practice due to the lack of waste management infrastructure. This contributes significantly to air pollution, as plastics, rubber, and other synthetic materials release toxic fumes when burned. In large cities like Lahore and Karachi, the burning of garbage is often combined with industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and crop residue, compounding the problem.
#### 5. **Climate Change and Weather Conditions**
Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns, driven by climate change, play a crucial role in intensifying smog episodes. During the winter, cooler temperatures and stagnant air often trap pollutants at ground level, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere. The increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves and erratic rainfall patterns further disrupt the natural balance, making air pollution more severe and prolonged. Additionally, the rising frequency of wildfires in neighboring regions—particularly in forested areas—also contributes to the overall smog burden.
### Historical Climate Data: A Decade of Change
Over the past ten years, the region has experienced a marked increase in the severity and duration of smog episodes, with significant climatic and environmental shifts contributing to this troubling trend. Key climate statistics from the past decade reflect the profound impacts of climate change on the region's weather patterns, pollution levels, and overall air quality.
#### **1. Rising Temperatures and Heatwaves**
According to the **India Meteorological Department (IMD)**, average temperatures across India have risen by approximately **0.7°C** over the last 50 years, with the most pronounced warming occurring in the past decade. The frequency and intensity of heatwaves have increased significantly, leading to hotter summers and altered seasonal patterns. The **Pakistan Meteorological Department** reported similar trends, with **Karachi** experiencing an increase in extreme heat events, particularly in 2015, when a deadly heatwave claimed over 1,200 lives. These rising temperatures contribute to the conditions that create prolonged smog episodes, as hotter climates exacerbate crop burning, wildfire risks, and the inability of pollutants to disperse into the atmosphere.
#### **2. Increased Air Pollution Levels**
Over the past decade, air pollution levels in cities like New Delhi, Lahore, and Karachi have consistently worsened. Data from the **World Air Quality Index** (WAQI) shows that New Delhi has frequently ranked as the world’s most polluted major city, with levels of **PM2.5** (fine particulate matter) often reaching 5 to 10 times higher than safe levels. In 2019, the city recorded an AQI of **>700**, a figure that exceeds the threshold for hazardous conditions. Similarly, Lahore has faced hazardous air quality in the past few years, with **PM2.5 levels** in the city often exceeding **300 µg/m³** in the winter months, well beyond the safe level of **25 µg/m³** set by the **World Health Organization (WHO)**.
#### **3. Record-Breaking Smog Episodes**
The year **2017** marked one of the worst smog seasons on record for New Delhi, with the city experiencing a 35% increase in the number of days with severe air pollution compared to previous years. In **2020**, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a temporary reduction in pollution levels due to lockdowns, but this was followed by a sharp rebound. The post-lockdown air quality in cities like New Delhi and Lahore returned to dangerous levels by the end of 2020, underlining the cyclical and persistent nature of the pollution crisis.
#### **4. Erratic Rainfall and Increased Wildfires**
The region has also experienced increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, which affect both air quality and agriculture. The **Indian monsoon** has become more irregular, with delayed or intense rainfall, resulting in a higher frequency of floods and droughts. The **2020 monsoon season**, for example, was the **wettest** in 25 years, leading to severe flooding in many areas. However, the lack of proper rainfall during the crop burning season in the winter has led to greater reliance on burning crops, exacerbating the smog crisis. Additionally, wildfires, both within the region and in nearby countries like Indonesia and Australia, have contributed to worsened air quality.
### Global Implications: A Regional Crisis with Worldwide Consequences
While smog is a local crisis in countries like India and Pakistan, its effects are far from confined to the region. The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) produced by crop burning, industrial emissions, and vehicle exhausts travels far beyond national borders, contributing to poor air quality in neighboring countries, including China, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In addition, the large-scale air pollution from these two nations can affect global weather patterns, exacerbate the risks of extreme weather events, and potentially disrupt the functioning of the global climate system.
The recent **United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)** report highlighted the link between air pollution and climate change, stressing that improving air quality could be one of the most effective ways to mitigate global warming. Reducing the emissions that contribute to smog would not only have immediate benefits for public health in South Asia but would also help slow the rate of climate change globally by reducing the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
### The Need for Urgent Action
The time for complacency has passed, and the hour is late. The 2023 smog crisis in Pakistan and India should serve as a clarion call for action from governments, businesses, and citizens alike. Both countries have already taken steps to address the issue, but much more remains to be done to confront the twin challenges of air pollution and climate change head-on.