Galaxy of globally acclaimed scientists, experts congregate to devise ways to curb environmental threats
New Delhi. Noted scientists, environmentalists and other experts from across the globe, including Dr. Kirk Smith – the eminent environmental scientist from University of California who shared Nobel Prize of Peace 2007, ascertained the potent causative factors for the enormous threat of air pollution to the modern civilization and its rational curbing and remedial measures.
These dignitaries were at the Amity University Gurugram on September to participate in the high-level International Symposium on Air Pollution – Causes, Mitigation & Strategic Planning at its Gurgaon campus on the 20th September 2019.
Air Quality of Delhi and NCR region has been a matter of grave concern for the last few years. Air pollution has claimed over 7 million lives a year and is a major cause of non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer worldwide. It also accelerates climate change. Tackling it can help reduce health risks related to weather extremes, sea-level rise, drought, and food production.
The Central Pollution Control board (CPCB) and National Environment Engineers Research Institute (NEERI) have declared vehicular emission as a major contributor to air pollution of Delhi and NCR.
Todays’ symposium saw the distinguished panelists focus on presenting various perspectives on air pollution, identifying gaps, finding possible solutions and concluding upon strategic planning as the next steps.
Chairing this notable event, Dr. Aseem Chauhan, Chancellor, Amity University Gururgam, said,“ Amity University is committed to bringing together the best experts from around the world and India. To be a part of the solutions to the devastating air pollution problem. We have identified key sources and pollution solutions. Over the last years through our center for air pollution. Amity University, Gurugram is making sustained efforts to ward- off such a colossal environmental hazard. An AQI measurement system has been established at the University for continuous monitoring of air quality in Delhi NCR.”
Vice-chancellor, Amity University Gurugram, Dr. P.B Sharma, said, “Air Quality of Delhi and NCR region became a major concern when AQI touched 999 in the month of October 2015. At Amity University Gurugram, we took the call as early as October 2015 to establish a Centre of Environmental Health Sciences and jointly with our ACOAST and in collaboration with IITM Pune have engaged seriously to monitor, model and analyze the air pollution and its trajectories.”
He further added, “Our monitoring is based on a state of art Air Quality Monitoring Station SAFAR established within our campus by IITM and Ministry of Earth Sciences Govt of India. Our efforts on Air pollution studies are further strengthened by NASA Aeronet that is installed in our ACOAST (Amity Centre for Ocean Atmospheric Science and Technology)that has enabled us to study aerosol particles ranging from 1 nano-gram to 1000 microgram sizes and trace the trajectories of aerosol travel from as far as the Oil Producing Arabic countries.”
Delivering his keynote address, Dr. Kirk R Smith, said that “household pollution if effective cut down shall alone solve much of the air pollution in India”. He also emphasized that we need to emulate some of the best practices from China, Singapore, and New York to make NCAP more effective.”
Dr. Arthur Frank said Air Quality has a direct bearing on human health and be given at most priority in India. Now, that air pollution has assumed such alarming proportions.
Dr. Alena Bartonova shared the best practices of the EU clean air program which laid great emphasizes on effective implementation of air quality standards.
It was the opinion of the experts that the NCAP should aim at bringing Air Pollution down to 20-30 percent of as of now rather than aiming at cutting down Air Pollution mere by 20-30% by 2024. It was also felt that the National Clean Air Act 2020 is also urgently needed.
