Every morning, while hundreds of commuters head to Hyderabad’s IT corridor in cars and on two-wheelers, 37-year-old Qualcomm techie Sibananda Patro pedals to work. For him, cycling is more than just a mode of transport — it’s a conscious choice to reduce his carbon footprint and live a more sustainable lifestyle.Patro’s sustainability journey began while volunteering with a group that organised clean-up drives and tree plantation activities. During one such drive, he was shocked to find years-old plastic waste buried beneath the soil. Plastic cups, straws, carry bags and wrappers remained virtually unchanged despite being discarded long ago. The experience made him realise how everyday habits contribute to long-term environmental damage.12-km cycle trip to workIn 2014, Sibananda swapped short vehicle trips for a bicycle. Today, whenever possible, he cycles around 12 km each way between his home in Narsingi and his office in HITEC City, saving fuel while staying fit.“Even if I take my bike, it takes around 30 minutes, while the car takes around 40 minutes because of traffic. Cycling takes about the same amount of time, and sometimes even less when traffic is lighter,” he said.One of the biggest challenges, he says, is the lack of proper cycling infrastructure and heavy traffic. “It even led to a road accident a few months ago, but I continue to cycle,” he said, adding that every person who chooses a bicycle over a motor vehicle contributes to a cleaner and healthier city.Cycling is just one of the many eco-friendly habits Sibananda has adopted. He carries a reusable steel straw for coconut water and other beverages, always keeps a reusable water bottle with him, and never leaves home without a cloth or jute shopping bag.How Beijing turned it around
- Beijing was a symbol of severe urban air pollution until the early 2010s, with air quality among the worst in global metros.
- In 2013, China launched the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan.
- It restricted heavy industries, tightened emission standards, expanded monitoring systems, promoted EVs and cleaner energy, and significantly reduced residential coal burning.
- Over the following decade, Beijing recorded a sharp decline in PM2.5, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide levels.
- The transition to electric public transport also delivered significant gains.
Key lessons
- Sustained political commitment over the long term.
- Large-scale investment backed by a scientific approach to policymaking.
Sources: Nature Geoscience, UNEP, Clean Air for Health.
