Global Efforts To Combat India's Air Pollution Crisis

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 21 of the 30 cities with the worst air pollution. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, and the burning of wood and dung for cooking and heating. The effects of air pollution are devastating, with an estimated 4.13 to 5.39 million people dying from exposure to PM2.5 pollutants in 2017. Recognizing the urgency of the problem, India's government has launched several initiatives to combat air pollution, including the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and the Commission of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region. India is also receiving aid from international organizations such as the World Bank and the Clean Air Fund, which are providing expertise, knowledge, and financial support to help India improve its air quality.

The World Bank's role in India's air quality management

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with air pollution causing one in eight deaths. The country's fast-growing economy is associated with poor air quality, and 21 of the world's 30 cities with the worst air pollution are in India. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating.

The World Bank has been aiding India in tackling this issue through a phased strategy under its Country Partnership Framework. This strategy aims to enhance knowledge, build capacity, involve stakeholders, transfer expertise in airshed management tools, facilitate analysis for policy adjustments, and mobilize finance. The World Bank's initiatives have leveraged insights from past projects in countries like Mexico and China, which faced similar air pollution challenges.

The World Bank program introduces tools to support state and regional air quality management, helping India develop its first State Air Quality Action Plans and its first large Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). This plan covers seven union territories and states, focusing on reducing pollution at the lowest cost using scientific evidence. The World Bank is also supporting the IGP states in connecting with academic institutions and local and state practitioners to carry out air quality management work, such as modeling.

The India Lighthouse initiative, in collaboration with the World Bank, has facilitated the exchange of experiences between Indian and international experts. This initiative aims to develop India-specific practices using advanced tools to better understand, manage, and control the country's air pollution. The World Bank is also working with states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to develop their first state-wide Clean Air Action Plans, which can lead to wider cooperation across the airshed.

The World Bank's Jeevika rural livelihoods project, in partnership with The Energy Research Institute (TERI), is helping pilot a program promoting the use of smokeless solar-powered cookstoves among rural women in Bihar. This initiative has received positive feedback from women, who have reported health improvements and fuel cost savings.

Through these efforts, the World Bank is playing a crucial role in India's air quality management, contributing to improved health and quality of life for Indians.

India's National Clean Air Program

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 21 of the 30 cities with the worst air pollution. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating.

Recognizing the urgent need to address this issue, India's Parliament approved a law in August 2021 to establish the Commission of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. Building on this, India launched its National Clean Air Program (NCAP) in 2019, aiming to reduce particulate matter pollution by 20-30% by 2024. NCAP is India's flagship program for improving air quality in its cities, integrating actions from science, technology, policy, and education.

As part of NCAP, 132 cities with high levels of PM2.5 pollution developed detailed clean air action plans. These plans outline interventions to reduce pollution from construction dust, industrial operations, and the transportation sector, with specified timelines. However, progress has been uneven, and annual pollution levels in 2022 still exceeded national standards. NCAP funds have helped expand air monitoring stations, with 180 additional stations, but more action is needed to reach the target of 1,500 stations by 2024.

The Clean Air Fund is also supporting India's efforts by facilitating collaboration between government, businesses, and the public to achieve clean air goals. They are engaging healthcare professionals, granting funds for initiatives, and promoting community engagement to drive cleaner air.

Additionally, the World Bank is aiding India through a phased strategy, providing expertise in airshed management tools, facilitating policy adjustments, and mobilizing finance. The Bank's program introduces tools to support state and regional air quality management, helping formulate India's first State Air Quality Action Plans and Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plains, where pollution and population density are most concerning.

Other initiatives include the Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometer-long ecological corridor with the planting of 1.35 billion new native trees over a decade, and the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility launched by IIT Bombay in partnership with Washington University in 2019.

The impact of air pollution on health

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. Air pollution poses a significant health risk, causing an estimated 4.13 to 5.39 million deaths worldwide in 2017 due to exposure to PM2.5 pollutants. In India, air pollution contributes to approximately 2 million premature deaths annually, with 51% of this being caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning, and the remaining 5% by other sources.

Additionally, air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders. Research has also indicated a link between living near major roadways and an elevated risk of breast cancer in women. Furthermore, occupational exposure to certain industrial chemicals, such as benzene, has been linked to leukemia and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The health effects of air pollution are not limited to physical ailments but also extend to psychosocial stress. Factors such as poverty, racial or ethnic discrimination, and residency status can amplify the harmful effects of air pollution on mental health. Moreover, the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in India are increasing due to climate change, further exacerbating the health impacts of air pollution.

While India has launched initiatives like the National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution, it is a continuous effort to mitigate the health impacts of air pollution. The World Bank and other organizations are also providing support and expertise to enhance knowledge, build capacity, and implement effective strategies for improving air quality in India.

The role of data in addressing air pollution

India is the world's second most polluted country, with the air pollution causing one in eight deaths. The sources of air pollution in India are varied, including industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, and the burning of wood and dirty fuels for cooking and heating.

To improve the situation, the Indian government and various organizations have initiated several measures. For example, the World Bank has been aiding India in Air Quality Management through a phased strategy, which includes enhancing knowledge, building capacity, involving stakeholders, and facilitating analysis for policy adjustments. The Clean Air Fund is also working with the government, businesses, and the public to help reach India's clean air goals, and the Indian government has launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to reduce particulate matter pollution.

Additionally, community-led air quality monitoring has been proposed as a solution. This involves empowering local communities to monitor air quality in their neighborhoods using low-cost sensors and mobile apps, which can then inform policy changes and interventions. This approach encourages active community participation and allows for more localized data collection, which is especially important in a vast and diverse country like India where one-size-fits-all solutions may not be practical.

Overall, data plays a critical role in addressing air pollution in India by guiding policy decisions, evaluating the success of initiatives, and engaging local communities in the process. By improving data accessibility and utilizing it effectively, India can make significant strides in tackling its air pollution crisis and improving the health and well-being of its citizens.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain and air pollution

India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 13 of the 20 most-polluted cities in the world located in the country, according to a WHO study. The capital, New Delhi, has the poorest air quality among capital cities globally. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung by low-income and rural households for cooking and heating.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is a region that experiences high levels of air pollution, particularly during the post-monsoon season (October to early December). This is due to stagnant meteorological conditions and higher air pollution emissions, including crop residue burning. The IGP region has the highest aerosol optical depth (AOD) values, with the largest values in the northwestern parts.

Recognizing the urgency of addressing hazardous levels of air pollution, India's Parliament approved a law in August 2021 to establish the Commission of Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. The World Bank has also been aiding India in Air Quality Management through a phased strategy, with a particular focus on the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The program introduces tools to support state and regional air quality management approaches, helping to formulate India's first State Air Quality Action Plans and its first large Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP).

Additionally, India has launched the National Clean Air Program, aiming to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024. The Clean Air Fund is working with the government, businesses, and the public to support India in reaching its clean air goals. The fund has granted support to build a network of health workers who can act as clean air champions for patients, policymakers, and communities.

Other initiatives to combat air pollution in India include the 1,600-kilometre-long Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a green ecological corridor along the Aravalli range from Gujarat to Delhi. This project involves planting 1.35 billion new native trees over ten years to combat pollution. Furthermore, in December 2019, IIT Bombay, in partnership with the McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis, launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in India.

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