Afghanistan has a huge battle against climate change as one of the world’s most polluted countries

In Kabul, as winter sets in and the climate gets colder, residents struggle with polluted air.

These days, the capital’s air quality has deteriorated to the point where it has become one of the most polluted cities in the world, with levels seen to be more than 11 times the World Health Organisation’s guidelines in recent months.One of the major contributors to pollution in Kabul is the burning of waste materials for heating and cooking.

Many residents rely on burning low-quality fuels such as coal, plastics and rubber tires, which release toxic gases and significantly impact the air quality.People walk the streets coughing, smoke impacts visibility, and heavy breathing can be heard behind half-closed windows as toxic pollution from low-quality fuels, worn-out vehicles, and the burning of plastic and coal threatens everyone’s health.

Sahaba Tawakuli, a Kabul citizen, shared the issues the city’s air pollution has on residents like her on a daily basis. She said: “Honestly when we go out we feel pollution in our lungs. We mostly use masks outside and do not stay out a lot because it may cause us headaches.”Sahaba also added: “Mostly children and elders are affected because of low power of their immune system, I have a friend at the age of 15 who got asthma and this air is making it even worse for her to do normal stuff during the day.”

Doctors have warned that the pollution and drop in oxygen levels increase the risk of respiratory illnesses, shortness of breath and general weakness, especially in children and the elderly.

Polluted air has now become a part of people’s daily lives, with every breath posing a risk. This silent threat is slowly putting a strain on the quality of life and future of Kabul’s younger generations. Afghanistan has been warming over the past few decades, and temperatures have been consistently above past averages.

According to national assessment reports and the World Bank Group, the average annual temperature for the country as a whole has increased by 1.5 to 1.8°C since about half a century ago. The main cause of temperature increases is global climate change caused by increased greenhouse gases. Local consequences include melting glaciers and permafrost, increased drought and water scarcity, increased flash flood severity, and negative impacts on agriculture and food security.

Kabul residents have expressed growing frustrations with the current air quality and pollution, and called on stronger measures to address it swiftly. While the Kabul Municipality said it aimed to address the issue, it requested its citizens to minimise fuel use during the winter in response. When asked what should be done by the authorities, Sahaba replied: “The government should make clean energy and make it affordable, so people can use it and pollution would be reduced.”

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Written by:
Nilofar
Edited by:
Sarah Hussain