Is air pollution the only reason we can't breathe? Poor implementation of existing policies? In the context of Kathmandu Valley, this question is not just a matter of debate, but a harsh reality related to human daily life. The hazy sky that appears as soon as we wake up in the morning, the smoke that stings our eyes, and the discomfort felt when breathing are having a serious impact on human health.

Air pollution is no longer just an environmental issue and problem. It has now become a serious multifaceted public crisis that directly affects health, economy, and the overall standard of living of humans. Kathmandu's air is being measured not only by data, but also by our bodies.

The air pollution situation in Kathmandu Valley has become extremely worrying in recent years. According to the World Health Organization, although the safe limit for PM: 2.5 is considered to be 15 micrograms per cubic meter, from 2023 to 2026, its level has been seen to reach 80 to 150 micrograms or above on many days during the winter and spring seasons (especially February-March), which is about 5 to 10 times higher than the safe limit. Data from the Department of Environment and various international air measurement platforms also confirm that the level of PM: 2.5 in Kathmandu often reaches above 80-100 micrograms. Along with this, the Air Quality Index AQI, which is an international measurement system to express the level of air pollution and its health effects, is measured on a scale of 0-500, where 0-50 is considered good (healthy), 51-100 moderate, 101-150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 unhealthy, 201-300 extremely unhealthy and above 300 is considered hazardous. According to this classification, in recent years, the AQI in the Kathmandu Valley has often reached above 200 and sometimes even more than 300, which clearly indicates that the air here has reached the 'extremely unhealthy' to 'hazardous' level.

Such severe pollution even led to the closure of schools for a few days in March 2024, which further highlights its seriousness. Such a continuously polluted environment increases the risk of serious health problems such as respiratory diseases, asthma, lung diseases, heart disease and cancer in the long term. Various studies have shown that such a situation increases the risk of chronic diseases. When the AQI is between 200-300 or above, the entire population is at risk of health, especially sensitive groups such as children and the elderly. Since their physical immunity is weakened, the impact of pollution is seen quickly and deeply, which clearly shows that the air in the Kathmandu Valley is still in a serious state of risk to human health.

The problem of air pollution is not limited to Kathmandu. It is also gradually increasing in other urban areas like Pokhara, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj. The rapid growth of vehicles, old and poorly maintained engines, unplanned urbanization, dust from road and building construction, the tendency to burn garbage in the open, and industrial emissions—all these factors are making air pollution more complex.

The ‘temperature inversion’ seen in winter makes the problem more serious. Under normal conditions, warm air rises and spreads pollution and polluted air, but in winter, cold air forms a kind of lid-like layer near the ground surface. Therefore, polluted air cannot rise and stays near the surface. This further increases the amount of pollution and seriously affects people.

Despite such a serious situation, an important question arises—does Nepal not have a policy and effective mechanism to control it?

Policies and legal frameworks related to environmental protection in Nepal (such as the Environmental Protection Act, 2076, Environmental Protection Regulations 2077, National Environmental Policy 2077, Nepal Vehicle Pollution Standards 2082 and Industrial Emissions Guidelines) have been developed and revised over time. In recent years, initiatives such as promoting electric vehicles, reforming the brick industry and expanding air quality monitoring have also been taken. This makes these efforts appear sufficient and positive on paper. However, in practice, as the air pollution situation continues to worsen, it is clear that having policies alone is not enough; their effective implementation is indispensable. The problem is not in the lack of policies, but in why they have not been implemented in practice or why they have not been effective. Serious debate and reform initiatives should be initiated now.

There are many policies in Nepal, some of them good. However, the policies that have been taken are limited to paper. For example, smoke emitted from vehicles is a major source of pollution. Although pollution testing is mandatory, effective monitoring is weak. Old and highly polluting vehicles still ply on the roads. Basic dust control measures (such as sprinkling water or covering or carrying construction materials) are often ignored during road construction and maintenance. Open burning of waste still persists, further worsening air quality.

There have been some positive efforts towards measuring air quality in recent years. Low-cost air quality sensors have been installed in various schools, localities and communities, which are showing AQI and PM 2.5 levels in real time.

This has played a role in informing and raising awareness among the community. Some schools have even started the practice of limiting outdoor activities on days when pollution is high. But, the question remains – are these data really becoming the basis for change?

These data are limited to information. If we decide to wear a mask today or not just by looking at the level of air pollution, that is not a solution – it is a temporary protection.

. Because if wearing a mask alone would solve the problem, we would always have to depend on masks. This clearly shows that we are limited to management rather than problem solving.

The purpose of using such data is not only to avoid risks – it is to identify where the problem is arising and the source of pollution and control it at the source. If pollution is continuously high in an area, steps should be taken to tighten traffic management, control construction activities, increase road cleanliness or identify and control the source of pollution.

The lack of institutional coordination has become another big challenge for us. The lack of clear division of labor, common planning and continuous cooperation between the federal, provincial and local levels has not made the efforts effective. Due to the lack of information sharing about these problems among various agencies, unclear responsibilities, and weak planning coordination, we are not able to reach a solution. We have the means to identify the problem, but the system for implementing the solution is weak.

Some work needs to be done to solve the growing problems in human health due to air pollution. First, the implementation of the policies made must be ensured. The system for taking action against violators must be strengthened. Second, air quality measurement must be linked to the decision-making process. The data available at the local level must be regularly updated and analyzed and an implementation mechanism developed. Not only data collection, but also use must be mandatory. Third, a common data system and an integrated action plan must be developed by maintaining effective coordination between the federal, provincial, and local levels. It is necessary to make local governments more responsible and active in road cleaning, expansion of greenery, construction management, and waste management, while keeping them at the forefront of pollution control. Public transport improvements, promotion of electric vehicles, and systematic urban planning must be taken forward as long-term solutions.

These tasks are not just the responsibility of the government. Our role as citizens must be equally important. Even small practices like using public transport, not burning waste, regularly servicing vehicles and adopting eco-friendly behaviour can have a big impact in the long run.

Air pollution is no longer just an environmental problem – it is also a major challenge to our governance, policy capacity and collective responsibility. We have the policy, the technology, the data. However, despite all this, if we are struggling to breathe clean air, the problem is still there.

The question is not only about the lack of policy, but also about the sincere effort and commitment to implementation. Until the policies made are implemented in practice, clean air will remain a right on paper.