At COP23 in Bonn, the world discusses emissions reductions. Meanwhile, Delhi is experiencing some of the worst smog ever.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Faget
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Delhi is choking in smog
At COP23 in Bonn, the world discusses emissions reductions. Meanwhile, Delhi is experiencing some of the worst smog ever.
Image: Picture-Alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
Twilight
As the nations of the world discuss strategies to reduce emissions at COP23 in Bonn, on the other side of the world, thick smog has engulfed the Indian capital Delhi.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Faget
Worst air champion
Smog is quite common in Delhi. In fact, the city on the Yamuna river is a sad record holder: it is the capital city with the worst air quality in the world.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Faget
Winter makes things worse
While the advent of winter doesn't bring snow in Delhi, it habitually makes conditions worse in the megacity. That's because the cooler air traps the smog close to the ground.
Image: Picture-Alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
That damn traffic!
An important contributor to smog is usually motorized traffic, which holds true for Delhi as well. Beyond that, farmers in nearby rural areas traditionally burn their fields after harvest, thereby making their own contribution to air pollution. This practice is technically banned but authorities tend to turn a blind eye.
Image: Imago/Hindustan Times
The festival of light
This year, Diwali added to the pollution. The Hindu festival of light not only brought a lot of traffic to the city, it also involved burning large amounts of firecrackers. And it goes on for five days!
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Hussain
Can't breathe, can't see
The smog in the city has gotten so thick that it has become difficult to breathe. It burns the eyes and throat and many people complain of headaches. It even obscures the sun.
Image: Reuters/A. Abidi
Face mask
People try to protect themselves against the fine particle pollution as best they can using scarves and face masks. But there is really no escaping it.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/P. Singh
More than a little too high
On Wednesday, pollution levels in the city reached almost 30 times those considered safe by the World Health Organization.
Image: Reuters/S. Khandelwal
Pollution, the great equalizer?
Even heads of state can't escape the thick air. The Belgian King Philippe, inspecting a military guard of honor during his state visit to Delhi is shrouded in smog just like everyone else.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
Cheap fares and expensive parking
In a first measure to reduce pollution, the city government has targeted motorized transportation. By lowering fares on public transport and raising the fees for parking, it hopes to keep people from driving.
Image: Imago/Hindustan Times
No school this week
The chocking smog has also led the city to shut all schools for the remainder of the week.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/S. Hussain
Protesting pollution
People in Delhi are fed up with the chronically bad air quality in their city. These women wearing face masks are on their way to a protest. So far, the city's response to the crisis has been half-hearted at best.
Image: Picture-Alliance/AP Photo/M. Swarup
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As the world meets in Bonn for COP23 to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work towards a more sustainable future, on the other side of the world, India's capital Delhi is suffocating in record-breaking smog. As is, the city is known as the world's capital with the worst air quality. Making things worse is the approaching winter. While the colder season won't bring snow to the city of 20 million, the cooler air keeps smog near the ground, effectively trapping it in the city.
Another factor that has contributed to the bad air quality is Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, which took place recently. The five-day festival involves the burning of large amounts of fireworks and brought a lot of additionall traffic to the megacity.
As a first measure, the city government has lowered fares for public transportation and hiked up the cost of parking to discourage driving and thus reduce traffic emissions. It has also ordered a closing of all schools for the rest of the week.
