NEW DELHI: Close on the heels of Pakistan blaming India for worsening smog pollution in its territory, India urged Pakistan and Bangladesh to take proactive measures in mitigating air pollution on the second day of COP29 in Azerbaijan.
At a meeting of the Himalayan countries hosted by Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, India highlighted air pollution as a pressing, shared challenge within the Indo-Gangetic Airshed.
“Most of our countries fall under the same Airshed the Indo-Gangetic Airshed. This is a transboundary issue. All countries must work together to address air pollution. Pakistan and Bangladesh should take proactive, collaborative steps to manage and mitigate air pollution across borders,” said Naresh Pal Gangwar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, according to a statement issued by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the intergovernmental research centre for the Hindu Kush region.
The Indo-Gangetic Airshed covers most of northern and eastern India, parts of Pakistan, parts of southern Nepal and Bangladesh. India struggles with poor air quality and the condition becomes critical during winters, especially for the northern states in the Indo-Gangetic belt.
Coordinator to Pakistan’s Prime Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination, Romina Khurseed, said: “As we gather here in Baku, let us unite to protect the invaluable resources of the Himalayan region through strengthened cooperation, targeted investments and mobilisation of international support, we can foster a sustainable resilient future for the Himalayan region because it’s not you, it’s not me. It is us.”
The Bangladesh official also stressed that the climate crisis was not only impacting their country but the entire region. “Not only Bangladesh, but the whole region is suffering. It is immeasurable. And if we remain and do our business as usual, the problem will get severe. We should act to prevent the ongoing loss,” Farhina Ahmad, Secretary, Environment Ministry, Bangladesh.
Tobgay said Himalayan countries were facing the brunt of climate change. “We are vulnerable and the effects of climate change are already affecting our entire region. We need to do more. We need to come together with a unified source of vision, with one voice and call for action,” the Bhutan PM said.
Nepal’s environment minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri called for solidarity in the fight against climate change.