New Delhi schools closed for a week due to air pollution as anger grows at India for COP deal U-turn

New Delhi schools have been closed for a week due to severe air pollution in the Indian capital.

Often considered the world’s most polluted capital, schools will pivot to virtual teaching as pollution clouds over the city.

The city’s government will work from home for a week and private companies have been advised to do the same.

Construction in the city has also been banned November 14 and 17.

Air pollution in New Delhi is currently at 470-499 on a scale of 500 according to India’s federal pollution control board 

New Delhi’s score on the air quality index is currently 470-499 on a scale of 500, according to India’s federal pollution control board 

Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, told an emergency press conference on Saturday: ‘Virtual classes will continue so that children don’t have to come out and breathe polluted air’.

The emergency comes as Indian PM Narendra Modi was involved in the watering-down of the climate pact made at Cop26, which Cop President Alok Sharma tearily apologised for when announcing the deal. 

The Glasgow Pact was made with the wording on a section covering unabated coal – the burning of coal without climate change mitigating technology – changed from ‘phase out’ to ‘phase down’ after lobbying from India and China.

Indian PM Narendra Modi has been criticised by European nations for watering down the language of the Glasgow Pact regarding the burning of unabated coal

The change lead to angry responses from European and climate-vulnerable countries. 

The emissions from coal-fired power plants are contributing to the pollution currently hitting Delhi.

The pollution is so bad that is potentially hazardous to otherwise healthy people rather than just those with pre-existing conditions.