“Air pollution is as much an issue of equity and justice as it is an environmental one.” Elaborate with examples.

Equity & justice issues-

(1) Health impact → more on poor people as they can't afford purifiers

• Lung diseases such as asthma

(2) Disproportionate impacts on vulnerable section → less contribution, more sufferings

(3) Livelihood impact → poor suffer if polluting industries close

(4) Migrants in urban areas living on footpaths → more exposed

(5) Right to healthy environment → part of A.21 (SC in Ranjth Singh)

(6) Rising expenditure on health due to air pollution induced diseases → more acutely by poor (7) Women → more exposed to indoor pollution (e.g. coal burning for food) (8) Children → more vulnerable to lung diseases as immunity weak (9) Inequalities rise as pollution creates gulf b/w haves & haves not

How to tackle → a) Afforestation ! - Miyawaki → b) Short term measures → Smog towers, humidifiers → c) Reduce emissions (e.g. EV promote) → d) Protect vulnerable sections → distribute masks, clean source of energy