Yearly, on the onset of winter, India’s capital metropolis is engulfed in a haze sturdy sufficient to go away its residents homebound. On 12 November, 2024, the air high quality index (AQI) reached an alarming 1,200, with new experiences warning that inhaling Delhi throughout this time is similar as smoking over 40 cigarettes a day!
“The fact is that this area really has a excessive stage of air pollution all by means of the 12 months,” says Vimlendu Jha, an environmentalist and the founding father of Swechha, a youth-run NGO that focuses on environmental points and training. “The baseline for air pollution in Delhi-NCR is excessive all year long, virtually all the time above 250.”
Sadly, Delhi shouldn’t be the one metropolis battling air pollution. The Indian subcontinent, together with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, hosts greater than half of the world’s most polluted cities, far exceeding the World Well being Group’s protected restrict of fifty µg/m³ for particulate matter (a mix of stable particles and liquid droplets within the air). “We can’t have non-public options to public issues,” Jha says. “Air air pollution can solely be solved if there’s a collective answer discovered to this, not essentially by residents alone, however by the state.”
India’s authorities has made some strides in addressing air pollution, specializing in stubble burning, vehicular air pollution, and building mud, however coal-burning energy vegetation proceed to function with out correct regulatory measures. “The indiscriminate blame or trigger attributed to stubble burning is among the most seen points,” Jha notes, however he provides, “Stubble burning solely pollutes for 2 or three weeks, and its contribution to air pollution all year long ranges from 0 to 30 %. After all, it’s a main contributor and must cease as properly.”
Because the nation struggles with air pollution, cities which have efficiently tackled the problem may present options. Barcelona, which has drastically improved its air high quality, affords useful classes for Indian cities.
Pedestrian-friendly ‘Superblocks’
Certainly one of Europe’s most polluted cities all through the late twentieth century, Barcelona has managed to scale back its air air pollution with the assistance of progressive city planning, transportation reforms, and inexperienced initiatives. In 2019, Barcelona’s imply annual PM particulate matter focus was 17 μg/m³, exceeding the ten μg/m³ restrict. Immediately, their real-time PM2.5 stage is 6 µg/m³.
The measures taken by town have lowered the degrees of particulate matter and made it extra livable and sustainable. One of the progressive methods in Barcelona’s struggle towards air air pollution is the ‘superblock’ idea.
This city planning strategy divides metropolis streets into octagonal blocks. Inside these blocks, solely pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport are allowed, whereas automobiles can solely use the outer streets. This reduces visitors, lowers car emissions, and improves air high quality.
“One of many major causes of air air pollution that contribute virtually 50% are vehicular emissions, industrial actions, building, rubbish burning, and emissions from properties,” Jha explains.
In Barcelona, every superblock covers an space of 400×400 metres, which is bigger than a metropolis block however smaller than a neighbourhood. The purpose is to create extra space for public use, assist biodiversity, promote sustainable transportation, and even encourage social interactions.
The idea of superblocks was launched in Barcelona as a part of its 2013-2018 City Mobility Plan, which aimed to redo 120 intersections. At the moment, town is engaged on redesigning one-third of the streets within the L’Eixample district, initially deliberate by Ildefons Cerdà. Beginning in 2022, town is specializing in remodelling 21 streets by 2030.
Constructing a dependable EV infrastructure
One other key part of Barcelona’s technique is its concentrate on electrical autos (EVs). The town has labored arduous to advertise the usage of electrical autos by investing in EV infrastructure, even providing incentives for EV house owners. The town has put in over 1,000 charging stations, for electrical automobiles and given tax breaks and free parking for EV house owners.
The town has additionally launched electrical buses and taxis into its public transportation community, additional lowering emissions from conventional fuel-powered autos. That is in step with the United Nations Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs), notably SDG 7: Inexpensive and Clear Power, which goals to “guarantee entry to reasonably priced, dependable, sustainable and trendy vitality for all.”
To additional promote cleaner transportation, town has been increasing its community of biking and pedestrian lanes, with over 1,000 kilometres of those pathways now below building. Public bike-sharing programs have additionally been rolled out throughout town, with 400 stations out there to supply quick access to fume-free mobility choices.
“Communities want to begin demanding options,” says Jha. “We demand broader roads and higher flyovers, we should demand clear air from our political class.”
The Spanish metropolis has additionally positioned vital emphasis on public transportation. Barcelona’s in depth public transit system, together with buses, trams, and metro strains, has made it simpler for individuals to journey with out counting on non-public automobiles. The town operates a lot of initiatives to encourage individuals to make use of public transport and undertake cleaner alternate options.
For instance, throughout occasions of excessive air pollution, town will increase public transport companies by 10% and affords discounted ‘T-aire’ multi-ride tickets to encourage individuals to make use of them. In addition they have schemes just like the ‘T Verda’ programme, which affords a three-year free transit cross to individuals who scrap outdated, polluting autos and decide to not buying one other — immediately addressing emissions from non-public autos.
As air high quality improves within the metropolis, Barcelona is observing socio-economic advantages. There was a 30% rise in business exercise, particularly in areas with lowered car visitors and extra pedestrian-friendly zones.
Increasing inexperienced areas for cleaner air
Barcelona has additionally targeted on city greening, with a purpose of accelerating its inexperienced areas. They plan on including greater than 160 hectares of inexperienced house by 2030, which can assist enhance air high quality, soak up carbon emissions, and handle the city warmth island impact. Inexperienced areas like parks, gardens, and tree-lined streets present a pure buffer to air pollution. The “Bushes for Residing” initiative, a part of the Barcelona Tree Grasp Plan, goals to extend town’s tree cowl and higher its pure surroundings.
As Jha aptly places it, “Certainly, it [air pollution] isn’t any extra simply an environmental disaster, it’s a public well being disaster. There’s sufficient empirical knowledge and analysis that talks concerning the grave public well being influence it has. We can’t repair the issue by means of particular person efforts like air purifiers or the posh of leaving town. We’d like a collective answer.”
In response to Endolla Barcelona, town’s electromobility community, the usage of EVs prevented the emission of 8,989 tons of CO2 in 2023. Barcelona is main the best way in sustainable city growth with improved air high quality. The town units a world benchmark for cleaner cities and exhibits how sustainable city planning can concurrently enhance public well being, financial vitality, and environmental well being.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee
