Meghan Hodges
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 17 of the world's 30 cities with the worst air pollution. The country's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, posing a significant threat to the health and economy of the country. The Indian government has taken steps to address this issue, such as launching the National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024, and the target was later revised to 40% by 2026. In this post, we will discuss the measures that can be taken to avoid pollution in India.
How to Avoid Pollution in India
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airshed management | The World Bank program introduces tools for airshed management to support state and regional air quality management approaches |
| Air Quality Action Plans | India's inaugural State-wide Air Quality Action Plans and the first Regional Airshed Action Plan for the Indo Gangetic Plains (IGP) |
| National Clean Air Program | India launched an ambitious National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024, revised to 40% by 2026 |
| Clean Air Funds | The Clean Air Fund works with the government, businesses, and research organizations to help achieve India's clean air goals |
| Remote sensing technology | New technology to measure vehicle emissions in real time, rather than in laboratories |
| Zero-emission vehicles | Accelerated transition to zero-emission vehicles |
| Multi-sectoral strategies | Support for state authorities to develop strategies to reduce air pollution in alignment with the National Clean Air Program |
| Air purifiers | Individuals advised to use air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters and activated carbon to improve indoor air quality |
| Sustainable practices | Adopting sustainable practices such as carpooling, using public transportation, conserving energy, and supporting clean air initiatives |
| Electric vehicles | Adopting electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel as alternatives to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles |
| Cleaner fuel standards | Implementing cleaner fuel standards and establishing air quality monitoring systems |
| Reduce plastic use | Plastic products are harmful to the environment due to their oil-based material, which takes a long time to decompose |
| Planting trees | Planting and growing trees provide benefits to the environment and help release oxygen |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce vehicle emissions
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant. Vehicular emissions are a significant contributor to this, with motor vehicles emitting far more in the real world than in lab tests. To reduce vehicle emissions, India can take several actions:
Transition to Cleaner Technologies
India has already adopted Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission standards, a leapfrog from the previous standards. This is a positive step towards reducing vehicle emissions, but it is crucial to ensure that these standards are effectively implemented and enforced to achieve the desired emission reductions. This includes improving emissions measurement procedures in laboratories and on roads to accurately capture the emissions of vehicles in real-world driving conditions. Remote sensing technology can also be leveraged to measure vehicle emissions in real-time, providing more accurate data for policy-making.
Improve Public Transport
Enhancing public transportation systems, such as buses, is essential to reducing vehicle emissions. This includes increasing the frequency, reliability, and coverage of bus services, as well as integrating them with other transport modes like metro systems, footpaths, and cycle tracks. By providing a comprehensive and efficient transport network, cities can encourage more people to use public transportation, reducing the number of private vehicles on the road. Additionally, investing in electric buses and establishing EV charging stations can further contribute to emission reduction goals.
Discourage Use of Private Vehicles
Making it less convenient and more costly to rely on private vehicles, especially older polluting models, can be an effective strategy. Implementing measures such as pricing parking and establishing low-emission zones (LEZs) can discourage the use of private vehicles. In LEZs, only vehicles with low or zero emissions, such as electric vehicles, are allowed to enter, significantly reducing emissions in densely populated areas. This has been successfully demonstrated in London, with a 44% reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels and a substantial decrease in traffic in central areas.
Scrap Older Polluting Vehicles
Incentivizing the scrapping of older, polluting vehicles can help remove high-emission vehicles from the roads. Providing incentives for switching to cleaner alternatives, such as electric vehicles, can accelerate the transition to a greener transportation system. This can be done through rebates, subsidies, or other financial incentives to make cleaner vehicles more accessible and affordable for the public.
Promote Sustainable Modes of Transport
Encouraging walking, cycling, and other sustainable modes of transport for short trips can reduce vehicle emissions. However, it is important to note that these modes may not be feasible for longer journeys. Therefore, the focus should be on improving infrastructure for these sustainable modes while also developing comprehensive public transportation systems that integrate with active transportation networks. This includes dedicated cycle tracks, footpaths, and safe infrastructure to support active travel.
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Adopt sustainable practices
India has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and its air pollution levels are among the highest globally, posing a significant threat to the country's health and economy. To address this issue, individuals, communities, and the government must work together to adopt sustainable practices.
At the individual level, people can play a crucial role in reducing air pollution by adopting simple yet effective habits. This includes carpooling or using public transportation, which helps reduce vehicular emissions. Conserving energy at home and investing in air purifiers with HEPA filters can also improve indoor air quality. Additionally, individuals can support clean air initiatives in their communities and advocate for policy changes to address air pollution.
Communities and local organizations can take a more active role through community-led air quality monitoring. They can use low-cost sensors and mobile apps to track air quality in their neighbourhoods and then use this data to push for interventions and policy changes. Green infrastructure initiatives, such as vertical gardens, green roofs, and urban forests, can also be implemented to absorb pollutants and improve air quality in urban areas. Art and awareness campaigns, in collaboration with local artists and influencers, can effectively educate the public about the health impacts of air pollution and the importance of taking action.
At the government and institutional level, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and investment in clean technologies are crucial. India can learn from other countries that have successfully tackled air pollution through a combination of stringent regulations, technological innovations, and international collaborations. The government should also focus on sustainable urban planning, improving public transportation infrastructure, and enhancing green spaces in urban areas.
Furthermore, India should accelerate its transition to cleaner energy sources and electric vehicles (EVs). The private sector has a crucial role in this transition, and businesses should actively engage in finding solutions to poor air quality. The Indian government's National Clean Air Program, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution, is a step in the right direction.
By adopting these comprehensive and sustainable practices, India can effectively address its air pollution crisis and improve the health and well-being of its citizens while also accelerating the growth of its economy.
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Reduce industrial emissions
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 17 of the world's 30 most polluted cities. Industrial emissions are a significant contributor to this, accounting for 21-38% of India's air pollution. To reduce industrial emissions, India could take several actions:
Firstly, India could scale up Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS). In 2014, the Central Pollution Control Board mandated CEMS installation for around 3000 industries, leading to a thriving market with over 30,000 installations across 11,000 industrial units. However, data transparency, accuracy and enforcement remain issues. Replicating successful state models can enhance CEMS integration and compliance.
Secondly, India could strengthen the capacity of its State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). These agencies are responsible for managing industrial emissions, but they suffer from high vacancy rates, particularly in the critically polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain states. Structured recruitment drives, with an emphasis on hiring scientific and technical personnel, could help attract and retain skilled professionals.
Thirdly, India could provide targeted financial support to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), enabling them to adopt cleaner fuels and technologies and install pollution control devices. Funds under the Startup India initiative can also support innovations in energy efficiency, cleaner fuels, emission monitoring and industrial waste management.
Additionally, India could promote the transition to zero-emission vehicles and increase the use of renewable energy sources. Remote sensing technology can help measure vehicle emissions in real time, and the government has promoted the use of LPG cooking fuel and electric vehicles.
Finally, India could focus on decarbonizing industrial processes. This includes using subsidies to increase electricity use, incentivizing the replacement of coal with natural gas, improving industrial resource efficiency, implementing policies to price carbon, and adopting carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
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Improve indoor air quality
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most harmful pollutant. This pollution comes from a variety of sources, including emissions from burning fossil fuels, biomass, windblown dust, and industrial plants. As a result, air pollution accounts for more than 2 million deaths a year in India and costs the country billions of dollars in economic losses.
To improve indoor air quality in India, here are some measures that can be taken:
- Increase ventilation: One way to improve indoor air quality is to increase ventilation by opening windows and doors to allow natural air movement. Advanced designs for new homes may also include mechanical systems, such as energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators, that bring outdoor air inside.
- Eliminate or reduce sources of pollution: Identify and eliminate individual sources of pollution or reduce their emissions. For example, gas stoves can be adjusted to decrease emissions, and scented cleaning products can be replaced with aerosol-free alternatives that have lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Use air purifiers: Air purifiers can help remove allergens and pollutants from the air, creating a healthier living environment.
- Regular cleaning and grooming: Bedding items, including sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers, should be laundered regularly to remove dust mites, allergens, and accumulated dirt. Additionally, if you have pets, regular grooming can help reduce shedding and dander, which are common allergen sources.
- Introduce houseplants: Indoor plants, such as bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, ficus, and gerbera, are natural air purifiers that can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethane from the air and replace them with oxygen.
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Develop and implement policies
India's air pollution problem is multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional, requiring an "airshed" approach that extends beyond cities to effectively combat it. As such, policies must be developed and implemented at the sub-national level, with coordination across various stakeholders, including state and union governments, multilateral organisations, energy entrepreneurs, sector experts, and civil society organisations.
One such policy is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in early 2019. The NCAP calls on 122 cities across India to develop city-level Clean Air Plans to implement mitigation strategies for ambient PM concentrations. The programme aims to reduce particulate matter pollution by 30% by 2024, with the target revised to 40% by 2026. To support the NCAP, a best practice compendium on clean air for Indian cities should be generated to promote cross-learning and build institutional capacity for implementation.
The Indian government should also prioritise financial incentives and technology solutions in its economic support packages to ensure a green and resilient recovery. For example, remote sensing technology can be used to measure vehicle emissions in real time, and the transition to zero-emission vehicles can be accelerated. Additionally, the private sector has a crucial role to play, and businesses should be encouraged to engage with the issue through platforms like the Confederation of Indian Industry's CEO Forum for Clean Air.
Furthermore, policies should focus on reducing emissions from anthropogenic sources, including industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, agricultural activities, and domestic fuel use. This can be achieved through cleaner fuel standards, the promotion of public transportation, and the establishment of air quality monitoring systems. Individuals can also play a role by adopting sustainable practices such as carpooling, using energy-saving lights, recycling and reusing, and supporting clean air initiatives.
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Frequently asked questions
The main sources of pollution in India are agriculture, industry, power plants, households, and transport. Thermal power plants, industrial emissions, the burning of crop residue, and the burning of wood and dirty fuels for cooking and heating are some of the main causes of air pollution in India.
Air pollution is a leading cause of premature deaths in India. It accounted for 1.67 million deaths in 2019, making up 17.8% of total deaths in the country. Air pollution also leads to health problems like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
The economic cost of air pollution to the Indian economy is estimated to be over US$150 billion a year. Lost output from premature deaths and morbidity attributable to air pollution accounted for economic losses of US$36.8 billion in 2019, which was 1.36% of India's gross domestic product (GDP).
There are several measures that can be taken to avoid pollution in India. Individuals can adopt sustainable practices such as carpooling, using public transportation, conserving energy, and supporting clean air initiatives. The transition to electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel can also help reduce vehicular emissions. The Indian government has also launched the National Clean Air Program to reduce particulate matter pollution.
