Air Pollution In India: A Critical Concern

India's air pollution is a serious environmental issue, with the country's cities suffering the most. In 2019, 21 of the world's 30 most polluted cities were in India, with the city of Ghaziabad recording pollution levels nine times higher than the healthy standard set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. India's air pollution is caused by a range of factors, including industrial and vehicular emissions, construction, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating. This has led to a reduction in life expectancy, with studies showing that air pollution could knock up to nine years off the lives of Indians.

India's air pollution is reducing life expectancy by up to nine years

India's poor air quality is a well-known issue, with the country's cities routinely topping global pollution rankings. In 2018, 11 out of the 12 most polluted cities in a World Health Organization list were in India, with Kanpur taking the top spot. The country's pollution problem is not limited to cities, though, as rural areas are also severely affected.

The main sources of air pollution in India include cookstoves, heating fuel, and kerosene lighting, car exhausts, crop burning, and dust from construction sites and the Thar Desert. The poor governance that allows lax enforcement of standards for these sources of pollution is also a contributing factor.

The impact of India's air pollution on human health is significant. According to a 2021 report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), air pollution is reducing the life expectancy of Indians by up to nine years. The report states that 480 million people in northern India face the "most extreme levels of air pollution in the world," with pollution levels ten times worse than anywhere else. As a result, the average person in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is losing an additional 2.5 to 2.9 years of life expectancy compared to the early 2000s.

The situation is particularly dire in Delhi, India's capital, which has consistently ranked as one of the most polluted cities globally. In 2021, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 451 on a scale of 500, indicating "severe" conditions. The air pollution in Delhi is so bad that it has been described as a "gas chamber," and it has forced flight cancellations, caused traffic accidents, closed schools, and sparked protests. According to the EPIC report, the life expectancy of Delhi residents may be reduced by up to nine years if current pollution levels persist.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Indian government has implemented various measures to combat air pollution. The 2019 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce dangerous particulate pollution, and by 2024, India targets a reduction of particulate pollution by 20% to 30% from 2017 levels. Strong clean air policies such as these have the potential to increase life expectancy in India by up to five years.

11 of the 12 most polluted cities in the world are in India

India, the world's most populous country, has alarmingly high levels of air pollution. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 11 of the 12 cities with the highest levels of particulate pollution are located in India. Kanpur, with a population of 3 million, topped the list with a yearly average of 319 micrograms per cubic meter of PM2.5, the most hazardous particle commonly measured.

The high levels of air pollution in India are due to various factors. One of the major sources of pollution is the burning of crop residues, such as rice paddy stubble, by farmers. This practice is particularly common during certain seasons, such as after the rice harvest when farmers start clearing space for wheat. Other agricultural practices, such as burning crop stubble, also contribute to pollution in both rural and urban areas. India's vast northern plains, which are drier and dustier than other regions, also make cities like New Delhi more susceptible to pollutants from neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Industrial discharge and construction dust are also significant contributors to India's air pollution. Poor governance and lax enforcement of standards for car exhausts, crop burning, and dust from construction sites further exacerbate the problem. As a result, India's air quality often deteriorates to dangerous levels, leading to flight cancellations, traffic accidents, school closures, and public health emergencies.

The impact of air pollution on health cannot be overstated. According to a report, air pollution in India reduces life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. The tiny PM2.5 particles, with diameters of 2.5 micrometers or less, can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. This leads to various health issues, including premature death, heart attacks, and breathing difficulties. The World Health Organization's guideline recommends that average annual concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter, but India's cities, and especially its rural areas, far exceed this standard.

While India has made some progress, with a 7% decline in PM2.5 concentration last year, the country still has a long way to go in addressing its air pollution crisis. With nine in ten people in India breathing highly polluted air, it is crucial for the government, industries, and individuals to work together to implement measures that will improve air quality and protect the health of the nation.

India's capital, New Delhi, is the most polluted city across the planet

India's air pollution is notoriously poor, and in 2023, its capital, New Delhi, was ranked as the most polluted capital city in the world. With a population of over 30 million people, New Delhi's air quality has been described as a medical emergency by the region's chief minister. The city's smog has been linked to severe neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, lung capacity loss, and even cancer.

The months-long winter season in New Delhi sees a sharp deterioration in air quality, with the air becoming particularly toxic. This is due to various factors, including the burning of crop remains by farmers in nearby states, industrial and vehicular emissions, low wind speeds, and the bursting of firecrackers during the Diwali festival. The city's pollution levels surged after people violated a ban on bursting firecrackers, and stubble burning by farmers spiked in areas adjoining the capital.

The high levels of air pollution in New Delhi have severe impacts on the health and well-being of its residents. One resident, Shahbaz, described the air as "death in the air," and shared how he struggles to breathe, constantly coughing and gasping for air. His wife, Noor, experienced "excessive itching" in her watery eyes due to the pollution, requiring a hospital visit. Another resident, Ali, described how the pollution has worsened over the years, causing a constant burning sensation in his chest.

The poor air quality in New Delhi is not an isolated issue, as India's cities dominate the global list of the most polluted places. In 2016, 11 of the 12 cities with the highest levels of particulate pollution were located in India. Rapid industrialisation, weak enforcement of environmental laws, and poor industrial regulation have been identified as contributing factors to the country's air pollution crisis. The country's vast northern plains, which are drier and dustier than other regions, also make New Delhi particularly vulnerable to pollutants from neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

India is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases

India has some of the world's worst air pollution, with 11 of the 12 cities with the highest levels of particulate pollution located in the country. New Delhi, India's capital, is often blanketed in smog, with air quality readings that are considered hazardous.

India's air pollution is driven by a range of factors, including crop burning, firecrackers during the Diwali festival, and vehicle exhaust. Poor governance and lax enforcement of standards for crop burning, car exhausts, and dust from construction sites have also contributed to the problem. In addition to the immediate health risks, India is highly vulnerable to the long-term effects of climate change, such as the melting of the Himalayan glaciers and changes to the monsoon season.

Agriculture is another significant source of emissions in India, contributing around 16% of the country's greenhouse gases. Of this, 74% is due to methane from livestock and rice cultivation, and the remaining 26% comes from nitrous oxide emitted from fertilisers. India has 15% of the global cattle population, with around 300 million cows and buffalo in 2014, and the country produces 19% of the world's milk.

India's fast-growing economy and population are driving increasing oil demand, which could soon make the country the top driver of global oil demand growth. India's domestic aviation market is expanding rapidly, with passenger numbers for domestic and international flights doubling since 2010 and projected to triple by 2037. To address these challenges, India has pledged to reduce the "emissions intensity" of its economy by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. The country also aims to promote coastal shipping and inland water transport due to their fuel efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Poor governance is a major factor in India's air pollution

India's air pollution is notoriously poor, with 11 of the 12 most polluted cities in the world located in the country. Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease and is the largest environmental health threat globally. In 2015, about 75% of deaths linked to air pollution in India, approximately 1.1 million people, occurred in rural areas.

Poor governance is a significant factor contributing to India's air pollution crisis. Lax enforcement of standards for car exhausts, crop burning, and dust from construction sites leads to increased particulate matter in the air. Cookstoves, heating fuel, and kerosene lighting are common sources of pollution in India's cities, and governing their use has proven challenging. The Indian government has been working to address these issues, but the country's vast geography and varying emission sources complicate the implementation of effective air pollution control strategies.

India's cities suffer from severe air pollution, with New Delhi, the capital, consistently ranking as one of the most polluted cities globally. The air quality index (AQI) in New Delhi has frequently surged to hazardous levels, leading to flight cancellations, traffic accidents, school closures, and public health emergencies. The pollution in New Delhi is exacerbated by its landlocked location, which hinders the dissipation of pollutants, and the influence of emissions from neighbouring countries.

The Indian government has recognized the urgency of addressing hazardous air pollution levels and has taken several significant steps. In 2020, the government set aside approximately $1.7 billion to combat air pollution in 42 Indian cities with million-plus populations. This funding is contingent on these cities reducing their air pollution levels by 15% annually. The government has also strengthened vehicular and industrial emission standards, emphasized the expansion of renewable energy and the promotion of electric vehicles, and is working to supply LPG cooking fuel to millions of households.

While India is making efforts to combat air pollution, poor governance remains a critical challenge. The country's air quality management strategies require sufficient funding, sustained capacity-building, and coordination between different jurisdictions and levels of government. Standardizing tools and data sets across India is crucial for effective control strategies. Additionally, individual cities cannot tackle the problem alone; collaboration between states is essential to achieving substantial pollution reductions and meeting global air quality targets.

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