Sandy Khanda

We, in India and South Asia, often strive to set records. But are we proud of these particular ones?

India has become the highest producer of plastic waste globally. Cities like Delhi in India and Lahore in Pakistan now lead the world in air pollution. November 2024 recorded the highest temperature in India since 1901.

Are these truly achievements to be proud of?

How many of us consider ourselves responsible citizens?

In the pursuit of development and festival celebrations, we sometimes lose sight of the cost to our environment. We often place the responsibility on the government or NGOs, forgetting that protecting nature, our planet, and our own health is a shared responsibility. The reality is that our air quality index (AQI) has reached levels up to 14 times higher than the safe standard set by the WHO. This is a crisis. The air we breathe every day is now thick with smog and harmful pollutants.

It’s already very late—our actions must change to protect the air, the earth, and our future.