Air Pollution In India: A Declining Trend?

India has some of the worst air pollution in the world, with 95% of the country exceeding WHO guidelines. Air pollution in India is caused by industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust, biomass burning, power plant emissions, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating. It is a major public health crisis, causing 1.67 million deaths in 2019 and reducing life expectancy by up to 12 years. While India has implemented initiatives to combat air pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the problem persists, and in 2024, 74 of the 100 most polluted cities and towns worldwide were in India. However, there is some positive news, with a decreasing trend observed in nitrogen dioxide levels in residential areas of some cities and a substantial decrease in the burden of household air pollution between 1990 and 2019.

India's air quality monitoring network has expanded

The World Bank has been aiding India in its Air Quality Management efforts through a phased strategy, providing expertise, and facilitating analysis for policy adjustments. India's first State Air Quality Action Plans and Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plains are being formulated with the support of the World Bank program. These initiatives aim to prioritize measures that will reduce air pollution at the lowest cost, leveraging scientific evidence.

The National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) is another crucial component of India's air quality monitoring network. NAMP, coordinated by the Central Pollution Control Board, operates in collaboration with various agencies, including State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees. The monitoring of pollutants is conducted for 24 hours, with 4-hourly sampling for gaseous pollutants, 8-hourly sampling for particulate matter, and 24-hourly sampling for PM2.5. The integration of meteorological parameters, such as wind speed, direction, relative humidity, and temperature, further enhances the effectiveness of the monitoring program.

Additionally, India has been making efforts to transition to renewable energy, promote electric vehicles, and supply cleaner cooking fuel to households. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has set time-bound goals for improving air quality, focusing on "non-attainment" cities that fail to meet air pollution standards. These collective efforts demonstrate India's commitment to expanding its air quality monitoring network and implementing effective solutions to combat air pollution.

The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

India has taken several steps to address its air pollution problem. In 2019, the country launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with a tentative national target of a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024, with 2017 as the base year for comparison. The NCAP aims to improve air quality across the country, with a focus on around 132 "non-attainment" cities that consistently fail to meet air pollution standards.

The NCAP provides a framework for cities to develop air quality management plans, offering guidance on policies across various sectors. It prioritizes reducing the greatest amount of air pollution at the lowest cost, using scientific evidence. The Indian government has committed significant funding to combat air pollution, allocating approximately $1.7 billion over five years for 42 Indian cities with populations of more than one million, on the condition that they reduce their air pollution levels by 15%.

The NCAP is part of India's recognition of the need for cross-jurisdictional coordination to tackle air pollution effectively. In August 2021, India's Parliament approved a law to establish the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas, acknowledging the urgency of addressing hazardous air pollution levels that have caused a public health crisis in South Asia.

The World Bank has been instrumental in supporting India's air quality management efforts through a phased strategy under its Country Partnership Framework. This strategy includes enhancing knowledge, capacity-building, stakeholder engagement, expertise transfer, policy analysis, and finance mobilization. The World Bank's program introduces tools to support state and regional air quality management approaches, which will contribute to India's first State Air Quality Action Plans and its first large Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plains, covering seven union territories and states.

India is also focusing on renewable energy, promoting electric vehicles, and supplying LPG cooking fuel to households to reduce air pollution. For example, the Delhi Metro now meets 60% of its daytime energy requirements through solar power, reducing its reliance on coal and resulting in significant energy cost savings.

Air pollution control strategies

India has implemented various strategies to combat air pollution, recognizing the urgent need for action due to the hazardous levels of air pollution causing a public health crisis. The country has put in motion essential "sector transitions" in air quality management, such as expanding renewable energy sources and promoting electric vehicles. Here are some key air pollution control strategies that India has adopted or proposed:

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):

The Indian government launched the NCAP in 2019 with the tentative national target of reducing PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20%-30% by 2024, compared to 2017 levels. The program provides a framework for developing air quality management plans and improving air quality in approximately 130 cities that fail to meet air pollution standards.

Commission for Air Quality Management:

In August 2021, India's Parliament approved a law to establish the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. This commission aims to address the hazardous levels of air pollution in South Asia through coordination across local and national jurisdictions.

Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicles:

India has placed a strong emphasis on expanding renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower. The country aims to achieve 500 GW of energy from renewable sources by 2030. Additionally, the government is promoting the use of electric vehicles and providing LPG cooking fuel to households to reduce emissions.

Emission Standards and Restrictions:

The Indian government has implemented emission standards for industries and vehicles, including restrictions on crop burning, to reduce air pollution.

Clean Technologies and Sustainable Urban Planning:

India is investing in clean technologies and promoting sustainable urban planning practices. This includes enhancing green spaces in urban areas and improving public transportation infrastructure.

Public Awareness and Participation:

Public awareness campaigns and participation in pollution control efforts are crucial. Educating the public about air pollution and encouraging a culture of environmental stewardship can lead to collective action and individual behavioral changes that contribute to reducing air pollution.

International Collaboration:

India is collaborating with organizations like the World Bank and experts worldwide through initiatives like the India Lighthouse initiative to gain knowledge, build capacity, and develop India-specific practices to address air pollution effectively.

Monitoring and Data Analysis:

India is expanding its air pollution monitoring network, utilizing satellite data, and establishing long-term chemical speciation sites to accurately identify pollution sources. This data is vital for designing targeted interventions and implementing effective mitigation strategies.

While India has made progress in reducing air pollution, especially in certain states and regions, the country continues to face challenges due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and crop burning, among other factors. A sustained commitment to comprehensive programs and coordination across sectors and jurisdictions is necessary to effectively combat air pollution in India.

The health and economic impact of air pollution

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, and the country is ranked seventh among nations most affected by climate change. This poses a significant threat to the health and economy of the nation. The main contributors to India's particulate 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.

Health Impact

Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease in India, contributing to around 2 million deaths annually. The health risks associated with air pollution include deadly illnesses such as lung cancer, stroke, and heart disease. A 2013 study found that Indians have 30% weaker lung function than Europeans. In cities like Bangalore, around 50% of children suffer from asthma.

Economic Impact

The economic impact of air pollution in India is substantial, with losses amounting to billions of dollars. In 2019, the economic loss due to air pollution was estimated at $36.8 billion, which was about 1.36% of India's gross domestic product (GDP). This loss is a result of reduced productivity, decreased labour supply, increased healthcare expenditures, and lost welfare. Delhi experienced the highest per-capita economic loss due to air pollution in 2019, with a 5.4 times variation across all states. The adverse economic impact of air pollution could hinder India's goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024.

Initiatives to Address Air Pollution

Recognizing the severity of the issue, India's Parliament approved a law in August 2021 to establish the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas. Additionally, India launched the National Clean Air Programme in 2019, aiming for a 20-30% reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 2024. Other initiatives include the Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometre-long ecological corridor that will connect native tree-planting projects.

Air pollution sources and solutions

India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, and the problem is caused by a combination of natural and anthropogenic sources. The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, power plants, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating by low-income and rural households.

Sources of Air Pollution in India

The sources of air pollution in India vary across geographical regions, with natural sources such as pollen grains, desert dust, and mineral dust, as well as anthropogenic sources. The primary sources, however, remain consistent across the country and include:

• Industrial and vehicular emissions
• Construction dust and debris
• Power plants
• Waste burning
• Use of wood and dung for cooking and heating
• Crop burning
• Fireworks

Health and Economic Impact of Air Pollution in India

The health impacts of air pollution in India are significant, with about 1.67 million deaths attributable to air pollution in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of total deaths in the country. The economic cost of air pollution is also substantial, with lost output from premature deaths and morbidity attributable to air pollution resulting in economic losses of US$28.8 billion and $8 billion, respectively, in 2019. This amounts to a total loss of $36.8 billion, or 1.36% of India's GDP.

Solutions to Air Pollution in India

Recognizing the urgency of the problem, India has taken several steps to address air pollution:

• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): The Government of India launched the NCAP in 2019, setting a time-bound goal for improving air quality across the country, focusing on 132 cities with poor air quality. The NCAP provides a framework for cities to develop air quality management plans and offers guidance on policies across various sectors.
• Emphasis on renewable energy: India has set an ambitious target of generating 500 GW of energy from renewable sources by 2030, with a focus on solar, wind, and hydropower. As of March 2024, it has already achieved 190 GW, ahead of schedule.
• Promotion of electric vehicles: India is encouraging the use of electric vehicles to reduce emissions from the transport sector.
• Supply of LPG cooking fuel: The government is working to provide LPG cooking fuel to millions of households as a cleaner alternative to wood and dung.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): India launched the AQI tool in 2015 to communicate air quality levels to the public and raise awareness about the health impacts of air pollution.
• Community-led initiatives: Empowering local communities to monitor air quality and advocate for policy changes through low-cost sensors, mobile apps, and art and awareness campaigns.
• Green infrastructure: Initiatives such as vertical gardens, green roofs, and urban forests help absorb pollutants and improve air quality in urban areas.
• International collaboration: India is collaborating with organizations like the World Bank to enhance knowledge, build capacity, and mobilize finance for air quality management.

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