Combating Pollution: Selling a ‘Green’ Lifestyle

This project explores solutions for combatting pollution. It describes how to sell a green lifestyle.

Published by

 on 

November 14, 2024

Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

HeadingHeading 3

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Card Title

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet conse adipiscing elit

Support

New Delhi, the capital of India, is choking. It’s not just the thick smog that blankets the city every

winter, nor the toxic haze that blankets everything in sight, but a deeper, more worrying reality: the

escalating pollution levels are becoming a dire public health crisis. I never fully understood the

severity of this until it became deeply personal. A few weeks ago, I woke up to an itchy throat,

burning eyes, and a persistent cough—symptoms that matched what news reports had been

describing: the thick smog covering everything from Lahore to Delhi. This wasn’t a far-off, abstract

issue anymore; it was a daily reality.1

The air in New Delhi is now more than just polluted; it is an assault on the senses. Every year, this

the issue grows worse. And it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a matter of life and death. Respiratory

diseases, heart problems, and even premature deaths are increasing at alarming rates due to the

persistent air pollution. So, what can we do about it?

The Root Cause:

One major culprit behind the worsening air quality is stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. After

During the harvest season, farmers in these states burn crop residue to clear their fields quickly. While this

practice is largely due to outdated agricultural practices, it creates a significant problem for the Delhi

region. The northern winds carry the smoke from these fires directly to Delhi, creating a pollution

"vacuum" over the city. The toxic smog from these fires often combines with the city's already high

pollution levels, pushing the Air Quality Index into hazardous zones.2

Another primary source of pollution is the rising number of private vehicles on the road. New Delhi

has seen a rapid increase in vehicle ownership, with each family owning at least one car. This has

resulted in massive traffic congestion, more honking, and, of course, more emissions. The city's

transportation infrastructure is struggling to keep up with this growth, making it difficult to reduce

the impact of these pollutants.3

These accompanied by the concerning amounts of crackers being burnt in Diwali and heavy winter

air suffocates the capital slowly4

Solutions:

The first solution is relatively straightforward but politically and economically challenging: a stricter

enforcement of stubble burning regulations. While the government has implemented bans in the

In the past, they have not been effective enough to stem the tide. We need a national policy that not only

bans this practice but also provides farmers with viable alternatives—like machinery or incentives for

better waste management practices after harvest. This is crucial, as a significant portion of Delhi’s

Pollution during the winter months is tied to the smoke from these agricultural fires.

The second solution lies in the way we move around the city. New Delhi is a city stuck in traffic,

where the air is thick with the exhaust of thousands of vehicles, particularly private cars. The simplest answer to this problem would be promoting public transport and encouraging carpooling. However,

this would require a massive overhaul of Delhi's transportation infrastructure and a cultural shift

toward greater reliance on public transit. But there is another, less conventional approach to this

problem: soft power.

What if we reimagined how people view a "cleaner" lifestyle? Most of us associate comfort, success,

and progress with owning a private car or flying in a private jet. This aspirational image is often

glamorized by the media. Politicians, celebrities, and business moguls are often celebrated for their

ostentatious displays of wealth, like flying in private jets or driving luxury cars. This constant cycle

consumption not only fuels the demand for luxury but also perpetuates a culture of wastefulness.

The more people see these figures as role models, the more they aspire to mirror their lifestyles,

which in turn leads to increased emissions and pollution.

So, what if we shifted the narrative? Imagine a campaign that rebrands sustainability and a "cleaner"

lifestyle as the true mark of success. What if, instead of showing off private jets or luxury cars, we

celebrated leaders and influencers who prioritize clean energy, use public transportation, or invest in

Electric vehicles? We need to reframe a "cleaner lifestyle" as not only accessible but as a symbol of

progress. This would shift the social narrative from one of luxury consumption to one of responsible

living.

By promoting public transportation, electric vehicles, cycling, and sustainable practices in our

communities, we can help shape a new aspirational culture that prioritizes the planet. A subtle yet

powerful shift in public perception could make environmentally friendly choices seem not just

possible but desirable.

The pollution problem in New Delhi is urgent 5, and it affects each one of us. While strict

regulations on stubble burning and vehicle emissions are necessary, we must also look at how we, as

a society, view and pursue progress. The shift toward a cleaner, more sustainable future will require

changes not just in government policies or technological innovations but in our cultural attitudes as

well.

Rijuta Joshi

2024 Fall Fellow

Rijuta Joshi is a grad-student at the University of Delhi. She is pursuing a degree in Political Science and aspires to establish her career in Public Policy.

Author's Page