DELHI GASPING FOR BREATH AS THE PANACEA FOR POLLUTION IS ELUSIVE

Despite private vehicles accounting for 90% of Delhi's road traffic, the city's EV adoption has increased significantly, rising from 0.1% in 2015 to 6.5% by 2023.

Delhi, one of the busiest cities in the world, faces serious challenges when it comes to air pollution and traffic. The city's roads are packed with vehicles, and the rising number of private cars and trucks has made air pollution worse. But Delhi, like the rest of India, is trying to make changes to reduce pollution and carbon emissions from its transport sector. This is part of a larger goal to fight climate change and improve the health of its residents. Here's a closer look at how Delhi is working towards a greener, cleaner future.

WHY TRANSPORT IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR POLLUTION

Transport is one of the biggest contributors to pollution in India, and Delhi is no exception. Across the country, the transport sector contributes about 12% of all energy-related CO2 emissions. Road transport - cars, trucks, buses - plays a huge part in this. In Delhi, more people are buying cars than ever before, and the number of vehicles on the road has doubled every 5-6 years since 2000. This growing trend is bad news for both the environment and air quality.

One of the most concerning pollutants in Delhi is black carbon, a harmful substance that comes mainly from diesel vehicles like trucks and buses. Black carbon is especially dangerous because it heats up the atmosphere 1,500 times more than CO2 does, and it is also linked to severe health problems for people breathing the polluted air.

THE SURGE IN VEHICLE OWNERSHIP