Author Recent Posts Rabia Anwaar Latest posts by Rabia Anwaar (see all) Bridging the gap through Climate Diplomacy – December 2, 2024 U.S. Strategic Influence VS. China’s Economic Engagement: Pakistan’s Choices? – November 15, 2024 26th Constitutional Amendment: Judicial Reforms or Judiciary in shackles? – November 11, 2024
Smog diplomacy is not a panacea for the decades-old traditional rivalry between Pakistan and India, but it is a pragmatic starting point to ease deep-seated tensions. India and Pakistan can potentially mend ties on climate change, as the environmental crisis presents an apolitical, mutually existential challenge that transcends traditional rivalries. Both nations face severe consequences from climate-related issues including smog, water scarcity and extreme weather events, which directly impact their populations, economies, and regional stability. These shared vulnerabilities create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. However, the question remains intact whether the two traditional foes come closer to address non-security issues that could pose a human security threat to the people of both states?
Smog is a toxic combination of air pollutant, smoke and fog, thrives in stagnant atmospheric conditions caused by abrupt shifts in climate. The higher temperatures intensify photochemical reactions in polluted urban areas, increasing ozone levels while irregular precipitation patterns fail to disperse pollutants, allowing smog to linger. This vicious cycle highlights the deep interconnection between abrupt climate change and smog emphasizes the need for coordinated action. The thick haze of smog choking South Asia each winter is a grim reminder of the shared environmental challenges facing Pakistan and India. Despite their long-standing rivalry, this mutual existential threat presents a rare opportunity for cooperation. As the world grapples with the accelerating consequences of climate change, Pakistan and India must recognize that their fates are intertwined and work towards solutions that transcend borders.
Lahore ranked the most polluted city in the world with an Air Quality Index (AQI) 298. Besides Pakistan’s other major cities like Karachi, Peshawar and Rawalpindi, India’s New-Delhi also accompany them in the queue of poor air quality. These are engulfed in a toxic haze as air quality drops to hazardous levels. This alarming situation is a direct impact of anthropogenic activities that hosts numerous factors including toxic industrial emissions, burning of fossil fuels and automotive pollution particularly in northern India and eastern Pakistan. The winter inversion effect, where cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, exacerbates the problem creating a persistent blanket of smog. This environmental crisis is further aggravated by urbanization and the lack of stringent environmental regulations in both countries. The result is an annual deterioration of air quality, with AQI levels reaching figures so high that they pose immediate health risks to the population. Smog not only mutilates visibility but also infiltrates homes and workplaces, making it impossible to escape its harmful effects.
The economic toll is equally severe. The inevitable effects of smog also include already miserable healthcare system with burdened economic resources, negatively impacted tourism, reduced labor, to name a few. The consequences of this recurring disaster extend far beyond health. One of the most immediate effects is the strain on healthcare systems as rising cases of respiratory diseases; cardiovascular issues and other pollution-related illnesses demand increased medical attention. The governments of both the states and households alike bear the financial burden of higher healthcare expenditures, diverting resources from other developmental needs. In Pakistan and India where healthcare systems already face challenges of capacity and funding, the annual smog crisis exacerbates these issues, stretching public services to their limits. Smog also significantly reduces labor productivity as workers suffer from fatigue, illness and absenteeism caused by poor air quality. This directly affects industries reliant on manual labor such as construction, agriculture and manufacturing which further leads to delays and financial losses. Moreover, smog disrupts transportation networks, with flight delays, road closures and reduced visibility affecting the logistics and trade sectors. Tourism, a major revenue generator for both countries, also suffers as travelers avoid heavily polluted regions. The cumulative effect of these economic disruptions highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to combat smog and invest in sustainable practices.
Smog also presents a real-time threat to the life and safety of the people of Pakistan. When smog causes poor visibility, it disrupts transportation networks and increases the likelihood of accidents particularly on roads, highways and motorways. Drivers struggle to see other vehicles, road signs, thus leading to collisions. Eye irritation caused by smog further exacerbates the problem by impairing drivers’ focus and reaction times, making it difficult to drive safely. In densely populated regions of Pakistan and India, where infrastructure is heavily used and often overstressed, these conditions can have devastating consequences. One stark example from Pakistan occurred in November 2017 when a massive pile-up on the M2 Motorway between Lahore and Sheikhupura was attributed to heavy smog and near-zero visibility. Likeweise, in India, another incident happened in 2018 on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, where dense fog and smog led to a multi-vehicle crash involving more than a dozen vehicles. These incidents underscore the urgent need for proactive measures such as better public awareness, improved infrastructure and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations during smog seasons to mitigate such tragedies.
The recently concluded COP-29 in Baku also highlighted the urgent need for global action on climate change which focused on implementing the Paris Agreement targets and financing adaptation in vulnerable regions. For Pakistan and India, COP-29 was a missed opportunity to showcase regional solidarity. Moving forward, both nations could utilize such platforms to announce collaborative efforts, attracting international funding and demonstrating commitment to global climate goals. Chances of cooperation exist, particularly in areas where joint action could yield immediate benefits for both sides. Initiatives such as cross-border air quality monitoring, emission-reduction policies and joint research on sustainable agricultural practices are practical starting points. Regional forums like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and international platforms like annual COPs offer neutral spaces for dialogue and agreement on environmental matters.
The path to peace between the two arch-rivals of South Asia is fraught with difficulties, climate change, as a non-traditional security threat, offers a unique and pressing incentive for both countries to set aside hostilities and work together for the common good. Tackling climate change together could pave the way for cooperation from lower political areas to higher ones, fostering people-to-people connections and reducing animosities. The shared vision of a cleaner, healthier South Asia can inspire new avenues of dialogue while helping both countries weather the storms of the 21st century.
- Bridging the gap through Climate Diplomacy - December 2, 2024
- U.S. Strategic Influence VS. China’s Economic Engagement: Pakistan’s Choices? - November 15, 2024
- 26th Constitutional Amendment: Judicial Reforms or Judiciary in shackles? - November 11, 2024
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