Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the bustling metropolis was shrouded in a thick layer of toxic smoke on December 27, 2023. According to Reuters, air pollution has soared to "dangerous" levels, and a similar situation has been seen in New Delhi, the capital of neighboring India. The city, with a population of more than 20 million, is facing a serious air quality crisis.
Dhaka, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, has seen its air quality deteriorate in recent years due to industrialization and urbanization. With the continuous emergence of large-scale projects and the overuse of fossil fuels, Dhaka's air quality is gradually declining, posing a serious threat to the health of citizens.
Rafiq Mondal, a Dhaka citizen who makes a living on a traditional two-wheeler, confided in reporters his struggles: "We often suffer from asthma, fever and allergies when we pull rickshaws on the street. Mondal's words speak to the hearts of many Dhaka citizens who struggle with toxic substances in the air on a daily basis.
According to the Swiss group IQAir, images taken by drones equipped with cameras showed that at 9 a.m., the smog made Dhaka the most polluted city in the world, with an air index of 325, which is at the "dangerous" level. Such air quality not only poses a threat to people's health, but also poses a huge challenge to the development of cities.
However, air pollution is not a problem unique to Dhaka. Across the globe, many cities are facing a similar dilemma. With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, air quality is increasingly in the spotlight. The emission of toxic smoke and harmful gases is rising, which seriously threatens people's health and the balance of the ecological environment.
However, for developing countries like Dhaka, the challenge of tackling air pollution is even greater. On the one hand, these countries often lack adequate financial and technical support to tackle air pollution, and on the other hand, rapid urbanization and industrialization have made pollution sources more numerous and more difficult to control.
To address this challenge, the international community needs to take practical and effective measures to help developing countries improve air quality. This includes providing financial and technical support to promote the use of clean energy and strengthening the enforcement of environmental regulations. At the same time, governments need to work together to tackle the global air pollution problem.
For a city like Dhaka, tackling air pollution is a multifaceted effort. First, the government should increase its support for the environmental protection industry and encourage enterprises to adopt cleaner production technologies to reduce pollutant emissions. Second, strengthen urban planning and management, optimize traffic layout, and reduce motor vehicle exhaust emissions. In addition, promoting green travel methods, such as public transportation and cycling, is also an effective way to improve air quality.
At the same time, public participation is crucial. By raising environmental awareness, reducing the use of private cars, choosing green travel methods and other behaviors, the negative impact of individuals on air quality can be effectively reduced. In addition, strengthening environmental education is also an important means to raise public awareness of environmental protection.
However, tackling air pollution does not happen overnight. It requires long-term effort and sustained commitment. Sustained improvement in air quality can only be achieved through the joint efforts of the whole society.
The support and cooperation of the international community are indispensable in this process. Countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation to share experience and technological achievements in air pollution control. At the same time, international organizations and non-governmental organizations should also play an active role in providing financial and technical assistance to promote global air quality improvement.
Overall, the problem of air pollution in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is a serious challenge that requires the international community to work together to solve it. Through measures such as strengthening cooperation, promoting clean energy, optimizing urban planning, and strengthening public participation