Breathing in the Himalayas:Air Pollution, Ecological Fragility, and Governance in Mountain Cities

Abstract

The analysis based on secondary research highlights the socio-environmental
vulnerabilities that influence exposure and adaptive capacities, emphasizing the
disproportionate burden on marginalized populations. Furthermore, it interrogates
governance frameworks such as India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and
Nepal’s Clean Air Action Plan, critiquing their limited effectiveness in addressing the
Himalayan context, where urbanization and industrialization outpace regulatory
enforcement. This paper also foregrounds the more-than-human dimensions of air
pollution, particularly the role of black carbon in accelerating glacial melt and disrupting
regional hydrological cycles.