When Smog Gives You a Day Off: Celebration or Suffocation?

I have been taught since I was a child about the various kinds of monsters that ruin the Earth, such as climate change and global warming, but air pollution is something that has always bothered me. It constantly makes itself known in the air we breathe and inhale.

Although I don’t know how air pollution directly affects teens like me, I can’t deny that it has a huge effect on the rest of the population, including us. People with pulmonary diseases, sinus issues, asthma, etc., are gravely affected, and I don’t think one can simply disregard such a huge issue. Air quality in Delhi NCR and other cities jumps from poor to very poor and now it is “severe,” but generally, post-Diwali, the quality deteriorates – no blue skies and clean breeze. Buildings and roads that are usually visible clearly have a veil of smog over them.

The deteriorating environment invites a sense of anxiety in me. There’s a particular uncertainty about the future. I spoke with lots of my friends – some take it for granted because many haven’t seen what a clean winter feels like. A major concern that comes out is, “Will there be clean enough air to breathe without masks? Will everyone succumb to various illnesses? Will leading a normal life be possible?” Despite all this uncertainty and fear, I have a sense of hope and confidence in my generation. There are multiple organizations that look over air pollution, it’s being discussed in classrooms, and awareness on this is being spread relentlessly. Media is full of such news. But what next?

I remember trips to the mountains, especially the smell of fresh air and clear skies adorned with a beautiful shade of blue. Coming back to the city is such a big disappointment to me. The air feels like it’s choking me, and it’s so nauseating.

What frustrates me the most is how preventable it is. If everyone was just a little bit more cooperative and thought twice before polluting the skies, the world would be a better place. As a teenager, I do what I can. I make sure to use public transport or just walk and speak up about these issues, but my efforts seem minuscule in front of the damage being done on such a large scale.

I hope one day everybody realizes that clean air is a right, not a privilege. No child should be conditioned into thinking that if they do not wear a mask, they will be prone to life-threatening diseases. We already have the knowledge, the science, and the technology to overcome air pollution, and hopefully, in the near future, we conquer this hindrance to a beautiful life. The government should implement stricter laws regarding air pollution and work on strictly executing these laws. Hopefully, once air pollution is reduced, we all will get to breathe clean air and live without any complications and illnesses related to pollution.

To end on a funnier note, I talked to some of my friends on this topic, and while most of them shared views similar to mine, one of them had a unique perspective. She mentioned that she doesn’t see air pollution as a major issue in her life because it often leads to unexpected school holidays, which she enjoys. While others might be concerned about its impact on health and the environment, she seems to view the extra time off as a silver lining to the situation. Such a humorous way to look at this!