Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, spoke at the Darryl D'Monte memorial lecture about the need for a balance between development and the environment. She highlighted the importance of reducing carbon emissions, ensuring clean air, and adopting cleaner modes of mobility. Narain also called for a switch to practices that are friendlier to the environment and criticized the government's lack of action in promoting cleaner fuel. The lecture was held in memory of Darryl D'Monte, an environmental journalist who raised concerns about the environment ahead of his time.
Delhi's annual PM2.5 levels in 2023 were 2% higher than in 2022, reversing the city's progress in reducing particulate pollution since 2015, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. The annual concentration last year was 101 micrograms per cubic metre, higher than the national standard of 40µg/m3. The number of "good" air quality days dropped from 41 in 2022 to 24 in 2023, while days with "very poor" or worse air quality reached 107. Adverse meteorological conditions exacerbated pollution levels, highlighting the need for further emissions reductions.