'We need to transform our commitment into action that will have an impact on the gases that drive climate change.'. This company thinks bacteria can help fix fashion's water pollution problem. Students participate in activities such as program evaluation and monitoring, public health surveillance, program development, risk assessments and analysis, development of policy briefs . The governments standard level is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. In Nepal, 35,000 people die annually due to illnesses caused by polluted air. systema There will be very less production of crops and the economy of the whole country can go downhill by this negative decision made by the government. The coverage of environmental issues in FM radios in Nepal: the current Air pollution in Kathmandu - The Ecologist World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. Education ministry spokesman Deepak Sharma said about eight million students have been affected by the closures. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. Also, news . We can classify pollution in many categories such as soil pollution, air pollution, water pollution, and noise . As we see the readings from air quality metres located in various stations of the country, we find that Simara has the poorest air quality. Air pollution on the Nepali side is mostly locally generated.. At the same hour, Bhaktapur's air quality degraded as low as 347 (according to The World Air Quality Project) while as per DoE's data it stood at 348. When a vehicle passes by, dust is released into the air and pollutes the clothes that are kept for selling and the customers do not like the polluted ones. We could barely see the birds flying around before but nowadays we can see the birds chirping and flying up in the sky due to decrease in air pollution. The number of vehicles in the valley during the last two decades has increased ninefold, and reached 922,900 in total during 2015, according to the Department of Transport Management in Nepal. In 2013, a team of Cambridge University scientists were in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, developing a device to measure . The World Health Organisation ('WHO') has reported that PM2.5 levels of particulate matter in urban areas of Nepal . According to Tuladhar, New Delhi was able to immediately swing into action because it had an action plan to deal with the crisis. Modern day Nepal is one of the most polluted and impoverished places in the world. Introduction. Nifty-129.. NSE Gainer-Large Cap . The CPV power plant operates in Woodbridge N.J. on Feb. 27, 2023. News about Air Pollution, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. "And it wasn't just the . Environment pollution in Nepal - China will be the host nation and will showcase its dramatic progress in cutting pollution. However, the record-breaking pollution this winter will add to the risk of the coronavirus. Thereportsays that 100% of the population in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are higher than the WHO Air Quality Guideline. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 9 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The country of 30 million people lies in the Himalayas between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters. This index is coloured red. People must stay safe indoors and not come out except for emergencies, the health ministry said. In Chabahil, Sunil remains concerned for his fathers health, who continues to take his walk despite the morning haze. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep . The company's plan to a second gas-fired power plant next to the existing one is being opposed by residents of the mainly minority and low-income communities around the plant who say an environmental justice law signed over two years ago by New Jersey Gov. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, has a population of around3.5 million. Officials at Nepals only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. It has a negative impact on various environmental aspects which directly or indirectly affect the quality of human health. Environmental issues in Nepal - Wikipedia World news on global warming, climate change, wildlife, pollution, carbon business and climate politics. In recent time it has been seen that the pollution is increasing day by day. Get access to nearly 50 years of journalism at the Ecologist Archive. This means Kathmandus pollution has been 15 times higher than the WHO standard. But air pollution issues are continue to increase. According to the World Air Quality Report, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted capital city in the world, based on its average yearly PM2.5 level. 2022: Emergency mode for the environment. , : Which country has the most number of lakes. Nepal's Environment Protection Rules 2020 (2077) lists projects that need IEEs under Schedule 2, and those that need EIAs under Schedule 3. Located between China and India, two of the worlds biggest polluters, the Himalayan nation is seeing the worst pollution levels since 2016. The latest edition of Resurgence & Ecologist is out now, and available to buy. Nepali lawmakers tend to shun study and researchwith rare exceptions, Healthy youth presence perks up Lumbini Provincial Assembly. The leaves of plants are covered in dust particles which limits the photosynthesis rate and affects the plants growth and natural beauty. All living being birds, animals, insects, plants and even human beings are victims of pollution. ? The first step in controlling air pollution is with electric public transport because vehicular emissions make up the majority of pollutants in Kathmandus air, says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. But poor air quality from as far as New Delhi cannot penetrate deep into Nepal.. Strong laws related to environment should be made and implemented. Because indoor air pollution levels are also high, ideally you would have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, says Pangeni. Krishna Kumar, a local business person at Kirtipur explained: Many businesses have gone down due to high amount of road dust. Moreover, Kathmandu is ranked as one of the most polluted cities in Asia:according to the airvisual.com, Kathmandu is the seventh most polluted city. A Love Beyond Measure: The Unforgettable Reunion, , . We chartered a train to Glasgow for COP26 and took 500 people with us. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. Though the readings slowly became less alarming after the morning hours, at 10:00 am and onwards, the readings for Simara was still lingering above 300; others (stations mentioned above) showed the index between 151 to 200. In Cities, Reducing Air Pollution Could Lower Cancer Rates At Similar The effect of dust is not limited to human beings, but is also felt by plants, particularly to those closer to the road. This also adds to the risk of COVID-19, said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at a tropical and infectious disease hospital in the capital. Photo Courtesy: Department of Environment/Air Quality Montoring, President candidate Poudel reaches RSP office seeking votes, US, Russia hold highest-level talks since Ukraine invasion, Scathing report on Nepal's security controls, In Pictures: Air Pollution continues its grip over Kathmandu Valley, China acknowledges Sino-Indian brawl at Galwan Valley from last year for the first time, Covid vaccination drive in Nepal could be affected with Indian govt halting AstraZeneca export. The views expressed in the articles published on this site may not necessarily reflect those of the trust, its trustees or its staff. , Change the direct speech to indirect speech; She said, "I am going to London today". More than 65% of all deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) in 2019 were linked to air pollution in Nepal. Q Department of Environment on January 5 had released a statement mentioning about the change in weather condition in the country and increasing level of pollution in Kathmandu valley. Kathmandus AQI has remained at the Maroon Hazardous level for two days in a row. We've received your submission. Publisher: Kunda Dixit, Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution . Kathmandu air pollution hits record high | Nepali Times Climate & Environment - The Kathmandu Post The average global citizen loses 2.2 years of life with today's levels of air pollution and, if nothing changes, that adds up to . , , , , . How to clean up Kathmandus air, Anil Chitrakar, Poisoning the air we breathe, Sonia Awale. As reported by the World Bank, Nepal is one of the poorest nations in the world with an estimated GDP per capita of US$470. Sign up for our WEEKLY newsletters - and never miss out on the amazing news and comment articles we publish. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT, A screenshot showing Air Quality Index (AQI) for various cities as measured at 8 am on Thursday, March 25, 2021. Arjun Khadka, 65, who owns a grocery store in Kathmandu, said he experienced itching and burning sensations in the eyes and nose which could be due to pollution. And residents of the capital who smoke get a double whammy. Submissions If there is any health advisory from the government, our family will stop going on regular morning walks, said Sunil. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen dioxide and ground ozone. ? Barun Poudel, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, says that the chances of pollution travelling as far north as Kathmandu from Indian cities are slim, but that Nepali cities bordering India have already seen some impacts. On hand was Marcia Bernicat of the US Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. Says Pallavi Pant, air quality scientist at the Health Effects Institute: Exposures to air pollution have been shown to affect the human bodys immune defence, making an individual more susceptible to respiratory infections such as pneumonia., Editor Online: Sahina Shrestha | Executive Editor: Sonia Awale While asked about the poorest air quality index of the capital city, Shankar Prasad Poudel, information officer for the Department of Environment, said that three major factors have affected the air quality of the Valley. Environmental Issues and pollution in Nepal - Earth's Edge Similarly, one-fifth of the total diesel is used inKathmandu. The 24-hour average level of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can reach deep into the lungs, was 214 micrograms per cubic metre in the upscale area of Bhaisepati in Kathmandu on Sunday, Department of Environment data showed. Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Kathmandu valley requireshalf of the total gasoline consumed in Nepal. Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. To receive the magazine, become a member now. Globally, air pollution results in around sevenmillion deaths annually. The polluter pays' principle was introduced in 1972 in order to address this issue. Plastic waste is a growing menace, and a wasted opportunity It urges the polluters to pay for the damage done to the natural environment. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 25 February 2023. ? The Kathmandu Post : Find the latest breaking news from Nepal, opinion & analysis on Nepali politics, business, culture & arts, sports, movies, food & travel, books, education, auto & more at kathmandupost.com As the new year gets underway, the world continues to grapple with a number of familiar challenges - the continued COVID-19 pandemic, resurgent wildfires, enduring crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Similarly, household air pollution (HAP) was over 18-folds higherduring our survey in 2007 than the WHO recommended guidelines . 12 February 2021. However, the vast portion of pollution is generated locally. Air qualities in cities like Birgunj, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa get worse due to local air pollution, supported by stagnation of air in this season where there is an inversion of temperature, a reversal of the normal behaviour of temperature in the troposphere, said Poudel, the meteorologist. From his home in Kathmandus Chabahil, Basudevs walks take him around Pashupatinath Temple and the Guheshwori area. But public outrage does not seem to translate into action to clean up the air. Over the weekend, pollution levels hit their highest in the capital since the government began keeping records in 2016, government official Shankar Paudel told Reuters news agency. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Human error eyed as cause of Yeti Airlines crash that killed 72 people, 2 Americans, 2 permanent US residents among 72 dead in Nepal plane crash, Father of flight attendant urged her not to work before Nepal crash left 70 dead, Nepal to send data recorder from crash to France. (left). These two are just representative examples of millions of people who are directly or indirectly affected by dust,a burning issue ofthe twenty firstcentury. Arjun Khadka, 65, who owns a grocery store in Kathmandu, said he experienced itching and burning sensations in the eyes and nose which could be due to pollution. Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. The World Air Quality Project's index stood at 515 at that time while that of the Department of Environment (DoE) stood at 490. Only a year ago, snow clad mountains shone brightly in the winter and we could see the mountains and hills clearly. In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit 37,399 and 9943 respectively, according to a Republica news report published on 23 November 2019. The victims of air pollutionurgently requirean appropriate action plan for mitigating these problems. At a time when Kathmandu's AQI was hitting record highs on Tuesday morning with 438, the New Delhi suburb of Noida recorded less than 151 ( AQI World map, below). This level is considered hazardous, and can lead to serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly, [along with] serious risk of respiratory effects in general population, according to the United States Environment Protection Agency. AQ AirVisual, on Thursday, also ranked Kathmandu the ninth most polluted city in the world, with PM2.5 levels reaching 139 g/m3the level at which the air becomes unhealthy for sensitive groups, as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index. This is also indicated in maroon. newspaper article on environmental pollution in nepal The country of 30 . As AQ AirVisual data shows, PM2.5 levels in Kathmandu saw a continuous rise last yearfrom 65.6 g/m3 in November, followed by 91.9 g/m3 in December, 92.5g/m3 in January and peaking at 96.3 g/m3 in February. Our environment determines our health and civilization. Nepal isn't short of water, thanks to the monsoon rains and the rivers that bring meltwater down from the Himalayan glaciers and snowpack. Ironically, World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May, just four days ahead of Environment Day. This is a very great decision taken by the government. Nepal closes schools as air pollution hits alarming levels - Al Jazeera I have started wearing a mask whenever Im outdoors.. The size of dust particles are larger compared to biomass burning or vehicular emissions. EPA to award $250 million in IRA funds to reduce climate pollution This indicates, around a quarterof the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to update its water pollution rules for slaughterhouses for the first time in nearly 20 years, the agency announced on Wednesday, following a lawsuit from environmental groups arguing current standards are too weak, according to Reuters. In . Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. ? In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled road release huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Site By: Hiti Design, On Monday night, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of Kathmandu crossed 500, according to measurements at the. 2426/077-78 This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Nepal has ordered schools to close for four days after air pollution climbed to hazardous levels, forcing millions of students to stay home across the country. Dust from construction works, exhaust from old, poorly maintained vehicles and smoke from coal-burning brick kilns blend in a murky haze that hangs over the ancient city of four million people, raising the risk of cancer, stroke, asthma and high blood pressure, experts say. 18/11/2022. 'A waste of time and money': Why are EIAs so ineffective in Nepal? Air pollution shortens lives more than any other external cause. Health alert must be imposed on everyone as everybody is prone to experience more serious health effects. The website is owned and published by The Resurgence Trust, an educational charity. Air pollution is a silent killer and while it is difficult to quantify its heath impact, hospitalisation due to serious respiratory diseases has increased sharply in recent years, says chest specialist Raju Pangeni at HAMS Hospital in Kathmandu. Reuters. Officials at Nepal's only international airport in Kathmandu said poor visibility, which was down to 1,000 metres on Monday, widely disrupted flights. Independent lab testing finds elevated level of chemical of concern in Winter inversion, vehicular emission, wildfires, and cross-border industrial pollution have combined to give Kathmandu Valley the worst air quality among cities in the world this week, adding to the risk of respiratory complications for Covid-19 patients. This has a negative impact on sectors that are critical to many economies, including tourism, shipping and fisheries. It remained at above 500 from 10PM till 5AM, falling to 480 at 7AM on Tuesday. Nepal is not far behind with 98% of its people living in such areas. The Geyh-Bouwer Trainee Practice Award recognizes students whose application of science demonstrates the betterment of the environment and/or public health. But public health specialists discount their efficacy and stress that the best solution is to reduce air pollution at sources. Air pollution has had a massive impact on Nepalese people. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEPAL Prof. Dr. Meen B. Poudyal Chhetri a and Anil Shakyab a Disaster Preparedness Network, Kathmandu, Nepal b Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Government of Nepal ABSTRACT Environmental degradation is a very big problem in Nepal which is causing human health In addition, vehicles passing over broken or traveled roadrelease huge amounts of dust particles into the air, worsening air pollution further. Rather than benefits, morning walks could have serious health impacts, Sunil said. 22 September 2021. Required fields are marked *. Pollution in Nepal - 724 Words | 123 Help Me With New Delhi and parts of northern India suffering under hazardous pollution levels, Nepal needs to take heed and prepare accordingly, environmental activists say. The government has also decided to sell the natural minerals like sand, rocks, mud etc to India. This can significantly affect the local environment and the health of people living nearby. Our aim is to educate and inform as many people as possible about the wonders of nature, the crisis we face and the best solutions and methods in managing that crisis. Globally, air pollution results in around seven million deaths annually. At times, it feels like my eyes are burning, said 34-year-old Sunil. Vehicular emissions or traffic related particulate matter has serious health effects such as increased respiratory disease, reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac arrhythmias, heart disease etc. When will women lead big political parties? The same report ranked Nepal the eighth most polluted country in the world. By Sophie Wodzak,Emily Cochrane and Lisa Friedman. It was interesting to note that despite the manic traffic and lack of infrastructure many city roads were dirt tracks, with no traffic lights evident. With neighbouring India and China committed to manufacturing only electric automobiles by 2030, Nepal will be forced to go electric. Double whammy: air pollution and Covid-19, Photo: MONIKA DEUPALA n the past eight months of this, ir quality across Nepal has been deteriorating over the years., The first step in reducing air pollution is to let. Your email address will not be published. The garbage should be properly disposed and managed. In terms of air pollution, the 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI)ranked Nepal 177thout of 180 countries. This is a grave threat to public health, the government should have declared an emergency and taken urgent measures to curb pollution, says environmental expert Bhushan Tuladhar. Majorities express "a great deal" of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%). In Nepal and Kathmandu the annual premature death due to air pollution hit37,399 and 9943 respectively,according to aRepublica news report published on 23 November 2019. Take your pick, but remember the best thing is to reduce the source of pollution.