Colleagues: This blog published today 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 citizens’ 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 countries’ 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 what’s 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 ******************************************************************** 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/
