Environment

Delhi's air quality has sharply deteriorated, with the 24-hour average AQI surpassing 450 on Thursday, reaching the 'severe-plus' category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that 32 out of 35 monitoring stations reported dangerously high levels of PM2.5, which pose significant health risks. In response, the city remains under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), enforcing strict measures like a ban on construction activities and non-essential trucks. The Indian Meteorological Department also issued a yellow alert for dense fog expected on December 20.

Delhi's air quality worsened significantly on Wednesday evening as the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 450-mark, entering the 'severe plus' category. The worsening pollution, exacerbated by low temperatures and weak winds, has led to discomfort in several areas, with Nehru Nagar and Wazirpur being the worst affected. As a result, Delhi remains under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has triggered stringent anti-pollution measures, including a ban on construction and restrictions on non-essential trucks. In response to the deteriorating conditions, schools in Delhi-NCR have switched to hybrid mode for most grades.

In a setback for environmental diplomacy, the year-long effort led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to phase out plastic pollution has failed to produce a conclusive agreement. Despite the historic 2022 UN resolution calling for global action to end plastic pollution, intense negotiations over two years, including the latest round in Busan, South Korea, ended in deadlock. The dispute centers around differing views on how to tackle the crisis, with countries like the European Union pushing for cuts to plastic production, while large developing nations, including India, resist such measures due to economic concerns. As plastic pollution continues to harm ecosystems and health, the global community faces a critical moment to act.