Delhi is choking as the air quality index (AQI) stood at 418 on Thursday, posing life-threatening risks, making India’s capital the most polluted city in the world in terms of air quality.
According to Safar, a Centre-backed pollution monitoring system, Delhi’s AQI at 1 pm stood at 418—equivalent to smoking 25-30 cigarettes daily. The Central Pollution Control Board defines an AQI reading of 0-50 as “good”, and above 401 as “severe”, which affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. Delhi battles smog – a mix of fog and smoke – every winter as cold air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from farm fires, leading to deadly levels of pollution blanketing the capital.
Studies reveal that India loses over one million lives annually to air pollution, with particulate matter (PM 2.5) being a leading cause of severe health risks. These fine particles, measuring 2.5 microns or less, can penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially causing cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. From my perspective, human hair is about 70 microns in diameter.
In light of the crisis, the Supreme Court will hear an urgent plea on November 18 to review the measures implemented by authorities to combat pollution.
Even as Delhi’s pollution crisis worsens, the United Nations annual Climate Change Conference COP29 is underway in Baku, Azerbaijan. Experts at the 10-day event have proposed actionable solutions to reduce pollution, focusing on tackling short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).
SLCPs, including methane and black carbon, are among the leading contributors to global warming and poor air quality. These pollutants also include ground-level ozone and hydrofluorocarbons.
Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), highlighted that the fastest way to cool the planet is by targeting SLCPs, which account for nearly half of current warming.
Zerin Osho, IGSD’s director, recommended establishing a framework to regulate pollution across states with shared weather patterns instead of fragmented, state-specific solutions. He also called for the accelerated adoption of climate-friendly technologies, such as electric buses and clean cookstoves.
 stood at 418 on Thursday, posing life-threatening risks, making India's capital the most polluted city in the world in terms of air quality.){kind=link}