Colleagues:
This blog published yesterday in Washington Post/Monkey Cage offers a political
analysis of Delhi's smog problems. Scholars have suggested that democracies
tend to have less pollution, because citizens seek a clean environment and
governments are responsive to citizensʼ wishes in well-functioning democracies.
But India is a well-functioning democracy, and Delhi elections are competitive.
Scholars also note that rich and affluent areas of countries experience less
pollution. But Delhi has the highest per capita income in the country. Scholars
also suggest that countriesʼ environmental policies reflect international norms
and agreements. India vocally supports the Paris Agreement and has outlined
aggressive targets for renewable energy in its Intended Nationally Determined
Contribution. Clearly democracy, affluence, and global norms are not helping
Delhi get rid of its air pollution. So whatʼs the problem?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/11/11/delhis-been-hit-with-toxic-smog-why-its-political/?utm_term=.87431c8374a4
Aseem, Nives, Thomas, and Liam
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Aseem Prakash
Professor, Department of Political Science
Walker Family Professor for the College of Arts and Sciences
Founding Director, UW Center for Environmental Politics
39 Gowen Hall, Box 353530
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3530
http://faculty.washington.edu/aseem/
http://depts.washington.edu/envirpol/