Davos 2025: Delhi can learn from Beijing’s success in tackling air pollution, says Dr Shyam Bishen

Dr Shyam Bishen, Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum

Dr Shyam Bishen, Head of the Centre for Health  and Healthcare at the World Economic Forum (WEF), pointed to Beijing as a key example for India in addressing air pollution, especially in cities like Delhi, which often experiences hazardous air quality levels during winter.

In response to concerns about Delhi’s worsening air quality, the senior healthcare executive highlighted how China tackled its own severe pollution problems in the past, particularly before the 2018 Beijing Olympics.

"It is unfortunate that India faces bad air quality issue every time during winters. Learning from China, which used to have similar problem, they were able to manage and control air quality issue via several public sector initiatives, educating the public and incentives," he said during an interview with Moneycontrol at WEF 2025 in Davos.

He emphasised that public awareness and government incentives played pivotal roles in Beijing's success.

"It is crucial that the public understands the part they play in combating pollution. Government alone cannot solve the problem; incentives for individuals and private sectors to reduce pollution are also essential. The government of China provided a lot of incentives to reduce coal usage and other polluting practices," he said.

Drawing from Beijing's experience, Dr Bishen suggested that India could implement similar strategies. He stated, "Government incentives, along with educating the public, should be key focus areas for Delhi. There is a roadmap in place from Beijing that India can follow for its cities."

The anti-ageing trend 

As anti-aging trends gain momentum, particularly with figures like entrepreneur Brian Johnson promoting radical approaches such as plasma therapy and a cocktail of supplements, Dr Bishen  expressed a measured perspective on the matter.

While acknowledging the emerging interest in longevity, he emphasised that the focus should be on a healthy lifespan, rather than simply living longer.

"We talk about longevity, but in my mind, a healthy lifespan is more important," he explained. "I don’t want to live to be 200 years old if 100 of those years are filled with disease. Prevention is the key to avoiding diseases, and that’s where we should focus."

His outlook stresses the importance of maintaining health and wellness through proactive lifestyle choices rather than relying on unproven interventions like plasma therapy or excessive supplement regimens.

Dr Bishen was particularly concerned about the global rise in obesity, which he views as a significant health challenge. "Obesity is growing rapidly, especially in the US, where almost half the population is obese, but it’s not just a developed world issue," he noted. "It’s spreading to India, China, and the Middle East, and we need to raise awareness about how to prevent it."

While he did not dismiss the potential of therapies like plasma or gene treatment, the senior healthcare executive remains cautious. "They have their place and will be tested more over time," he acknowledged, but added that not all such treatments will prove effective. "Some of it will be valid and applied, but some of it will disappear."