Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
Pakistan’s Punjab province has been smothered in toxic grey smog since last month – and a Nasa Worldview satellite image published yesterday makes the dense coverage clear. Schools, government offices, parks, playgrounds and museums have been closed, and on Monday new restrictions banned all outdoor activities in four districts including Lahore. Air pollution in the region usually increases over winter for reasons including the burning of agricultural waste, emissions from factories and vehicles and colder air (which traps pollution while warmer air lifts it away), but Lahore officials told CNN that this season is “unprecedented”. More than 40,000 people have been treated for respiratory illnesses, while the UN children’s agency warned yesterday that the health of 11 million children under five is at risk.
