The Political Economy of Vulnerability to Air Pollution in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

据估计，空气污染每年导致全球300万至700万人死亡，而颗粒物（PM）对这一国际健康负担的贡献最大（Lelieveld等人，2015年）。虽然空气污染对人类健康的影响有充分的记录（肺癌、心脏病和其他心肺疾病的风险增加），但越来越多的证据表明，某些社会经济群体（Avis等人，2018年）和职业（例如公共交通工人）面临不成比例的暴露（Brown等人，2022年; Singh等人，2021年）。对空气污染的脆弱性可以从暴露、敏感性和适应能力这三个角度来看待。在低收入和中等收入国家不平等加剧以及生计应对策略空间日益多样化的背景下，越来越需要社会科学主导的研究，详细探讨人们生活和运作的社会政治背景，与颗粒物暴露监测相互作用，特别是在边缘化群体中。这些研究将提供一个全面的空气污染脆弱性的政治经济学，同时也了解暴露的地理以及这些如何共同创造新的社会和空间不平等。鉴于加德满都是南亚污染最严重的城市之一，其特点是不同的亚人口群体，它为进一步研究提供了理想的背景。本研究将在尼泊尔加德满都山谷进行，旨在通过以下问题，结合定性和定量数据以及对低成本便携式颗粒物（PM）传感器数据的分析，了解不同亚人群中空气污染暴露的政治经济学和空间地理学：RQ 1.加德满都谷地的空气污染暴露在空间上是如何分布的？（暴露评估）RQ 2。根据社会经济地位、年龄和性别划分的不同生计如何受到空气污染的影响，以及它如何影响空间流动性？（敏感性鉴别）RQ 3。影响空气污染脆弱性的现有适应性应对机制是什么，它们在加德满都山谷不同亚人群中的分布情况如何？（应对机制评价）研究将采用混合方法，通过深入住户访谈、利益攸关方会议/讲习班、二手数据分析和调查等各种方法收集数据。设在尼泊尔的合作伙伴国际山区综合发展中心（山区发展中心）将在整个实地工作中促进研究活动。整个实地考察预计将持续9个月。前三个月将专门用于山地发展中心的案头审查。数据收集将跨越两个季节60天-冬季和季风。这将涉及使用低成本传感器进行日常空气污染物监测，同时沿着与研究参与者进行个人深入访谈。此外，在实地考察期间，将与相关利益攸关方举行两次研讨会或会议，以审查现有计划并确定现有政策差距。这项研究对于尼泊尔等中低收入国家至关重要，可以根据社会经济地位、职业、种族和地理位置等因素，了解不同亚群人群的脆弱性如何变化。这些研究将有助于探讨环境不平等的模式和驱动因素，促进针对不同人口群体的脆弱性制定有针对性的政策。

Air pollution contributes to an estimated 3-7 million deaths per year globally, and particulate matter (PM) makes the greatest contribution to this international health burden (Lelieveld et al., 2015). While the effects of air pollution on human health are well documented (elevated risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other cardiorespiratory conditions), there is growing evidence that certain socio-economic groups (Avis et al 2018), and occupations (e.g. public transport workers) face disproportionate exposure (Brown et al 2022; Singh et al 2021). Vulnerability to air pollution can be viewed through the three lenses of exposure, susceptibility and adaptive capacity. In the context of intensifying inequalities in low- and middle-income countries, and increasingly spatially diverse livelihood coping strategies, there is a growing need for social science-led studies that explore in detail the socio-political contexts in which people live and operate, in interaction with particulate matter exposure monitoring, especially amongst marginalised groups. Such studies will offer a comprehensive political economy of air pollution vulnerability, while also understanding the geography of exposure and how these co-create emerging social and spatial inequalities. Given, that Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in South Asia, characterised by diverse sub-population groups, it presents an ideal context for further study. This study will be conducted in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal - aiming to understand the political economy and spatial geography of air pollution exposure amongst different sub-population groups using a combination of qualitative and quantitative data and analysis of data from low-cost portable particulate matter (PM) sensors, through the following questions:RQ1. How the exposure to air pollution is spatially distributed across the Kathmandu Valley? (EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT)RQ2. How different livelihoods stratified according to socio-economic status, age and gender are impacted by exposure to air pollution and how does it impact spatial mobility? (SUSCEPTIBILITY IDENTIFICATION)RQ3. What are the existing adaptive coping mechanisms available that influence vulnerability to air pollution and how are they distributed across different sub-populations in the Kathmandu Valley? (COPING MECHANISM EVALUATION)The study will employ a mixed-method approach, collecting data through various methods such as in-depth household interviews, stakeholder meetings/workshops, secondary data analysis, and surveys. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the collaborative partner based in Nepal, will facilitate the research activities throughout the fieldwork. The entire field stay is expected to last nine months. The first three months will be dedicated to desk reviews at ICIMOD. Data collection will span 60 days over two seasons-winter and monsoon. This will involve daily air pollutant monitoring using low-cost sensors, along with individual in-depth interviews with the study participants. Additionally, two workshops or meetings will be held with relevant stakeholders during the field stay to review existing programs and identify existing policy gaps.This research is imperative in lower-middle-income countries like Nepal to discern how vulnerability may vary within different sub-populations based on factors such as socioeconomic status, occupation, ethnicity, and geographical location. These studies will help to explore the patterns and drivers of environmental inequalities, facilitating the development of tailored policies for the vulnerability of distinct population segments.