Transboundary Implications of India and Nepal Air Pollution Policy Implementation and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

Abstract

The expansion of environmental politics is a major revolution which was expanded as a form of political activity in international relations. Particularly smog with particulates can be recognised as a transboundary air pollution in the South Asia region. Environmental issue like smog is not appeared frequently on the international agenda even within the banner of some regional cooperation that negotiate some binding environmental agreements. Smog with particulates are generally acknowledged as a threat to the region as well. It means that the South Asian countries are steadily experiencing various grievance of smog with particulates for the last few years. It has also formed health and environment effects to the region. India and Nepal are prominent contributors to smog with particulate air pollution in the region due to industrialization, population growth, and weak implementation of air pollution policies. Main objective of this paper was to examine the response of SAARC with regard to the problem of smog with particulates in the region. It is true that smog with particulate pollution is a transboundary difficulty to the region where none of the countries can maintain it alone. Further there are inter-governmental agreements to tackle regional air pollution problems such as The Male Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution which was signed in 1998. SAARC can also play a vital role in regional environment management by establishing regional environment quality standards.