Former Spanish Ambassador Gustavo De Aristegui comments on Delhi Smog: Common Concern Needs a Common Rectification

Lethal smog in the Nation’s capital is alarming people of intoxication- a situation that calls for initiatives from international representatives. Former Spanish Ambassador Gustavo De Aristegui, expresses his opinion about Delhi’s condition getting worse and the ways to deal with it.

Smog refers to an atmospheric condition with instability, caused due to harmful components such as Sulfur Oxide, a mixture of fog and other suspended matter. Whose immediate effects include burning eyes, breathlessness and other respiratory problems.

In a newsprint column by the Spanish ambassador, Gustavo De Aristegui points out the depleting ozone layer because of pollution, and Delhi’s contribution to the woe.

To understand the increasing health concerns of the dense smog, which has blanketed the nation’s capital, Gustavo De Aristegui relates it to the historic Great Smog of London in 1952, which caused 12,000 deaths.

The environmentalists contend on the fact that renewable resources are limited, and can’t match the potential required to serve the current requirements. Hence, non-renewable resources are used as a majority, generating pollution at large. Gustavo debates that the approach of sustainable development should be applied, which will balance the use of renewable and non-renewable resources.

For example, ultra super critical coal technology is an inventive and an uncontaminated way to run thermal power plants. Yet, environmentalists oppose it.

The only call for action to avoid this danger, is to use a mix of both the resources and to go green. Not only the government, but each and every individual needs to support this. “Even if every individual plants one tree, the future will certainly be better,” asserts the former Spanish ambassador.

Harmful units such as the Bardarpur Power Plant need to shut down, while we should try and donate vigorously to this cause.

These viewpoints are a replication of Spain’s own problem, adds Gustavo De Aristegui. As per the European Environment Agency, smog has claimed an estimated 30,000 people in 2013 in Spain.

There is a parallel between the two countries, who are fighting to end pollution, while looking for a common rectification. Nonetheless, the good news is that both the countries can assist each other in reaching to a solution as quick as possible.