https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/30/nepal-closes-schools-as-air-pollution-hits-alarming-levels
The level of air pollution in Nepal has gotten hazardously high this past month, climbing to dangerous levels and now resulting in the government ordering school closings for four days. Around eight million students must now stay home across the country. Nepal is located in between China and India, which are two of the world’s largest sources of pollution, resulting in Nepal seeing its highest pollution level since 2016 which is when the government started tracking pollution levels in the country. In the capital, Kathmandu, dust, smoke, and exhaust have created a haze that lays over the city. This has increased the risk of cancer, strokes, asthma, high blood pressure, and more recently prominent, COVID-19. A government order states that citizens must stay indoors and not come out unless there’s an emergency. Planes have even been grounded, as the haze has resulted in such poor visibility.
Pollution is a huge problem globally, specifically recently with COVID-19. Inhaling polluted air can damage your lungs, putting you at a higher risk to contract asthma or other respiratory issues. As coronavirus affects those with weak lungs at much higher and deadlier levels, living in a polluted environment puts those living in Nepal at a much higher risk of having complications as a result of catching COVID-19. I found it interesting that pollution in Nepal is at its highest since 2016, as I thought pollution rates around the world were on the decline due to more people staying at home and less commuting as a result of the pandemic. Nepal doesn’t have much control over the pollution, as a majority of it comes from China and India. Because of this I think these events could potentially lead to some type of agreement or environmental deal between the countries.
This article clearly reflects the results of the global power hierarchy. With China as a global power and India as a rising power, they hold prominence over Nepal as a lower end cultural power. Both India and China have large manufacturing and trade industries, fueling the global economy, which creates the pollution that looms over Nepal. Because it stimulates all parts of the world, a relatively insignificant power like Nepal isn’t seen as very important in this situation, which makes it difficult for the country to aid its people and put a stop to the increasing levels of pollution.