Bronte Wells
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with its 1.4 billion citizens exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. The main sources of pollution in India include vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, thermal power plants, construction dust, waste burning, and the burning of wood and dung for cooking and heating. In 2019, India declared a war against pollution and launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution. While the country has made efforts to address the issue, air pollution remains a critical problem, posing significant threats to public health and the economy. However, with the right policies and management practices, there is potential to reduce India's air pollution within a single generation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| India's rank in polluted countries | Second most polluted country in the world |
| Air pollution's impact on life expectancy | Reduces the average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years |
| Number of cities in India among the 30 most polluted cities in the world | 17 |
| India's capital, New Delhi's rank in polluted capital cities globally | First |
| Main causes of air pollution in India | Vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, thermal power plants, construction dust, waste burning, use of wood and dung for cooking and heating, crop burning |
| Number of deaths attributable to air pollution in India in 2019 | 1.67 million |
| Percentage of total deaths in India attributable to air pollution in 2019 | 17.8% |
| Economic losses in India in 2019 attributable to lost output from premature deaths and morbidity caused by air pollution | US$28.8 billion and $8 billion, respectively |
| Total economic losses in India in 2019 caused by air pollution | $36.8 billion |
| Percentage of total GDP of India in 2019 lost due to air pollution | 1.36% |
| India's CO2 emissions reduction target by 2030 | 23% |
| India's CO2 emissions reduction target by 2040-50 | 42% |
| India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) target for reduction in particulate pollution by 2025-26 | 40% |
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What You'll Learn
India's air pollution crisis
India is facing a severe air pollution crisis, with its 1.4 billion citizens exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant. This fine particulate matter is emitted by factories, vehicles, and other sources, and has devastating impacts on the health and economy of the country.
In 2019, air pollution contributed to the premature deaths of 1.67 million people in India, accounting for economic losses of $28.8 billion. The situation is particularly dire in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, consistently ranked as the most polluted capital city in the world. In December 2022, pollution levels in New Delhi became so severe that officials were forced to close schools and restrict outdoor activities for children.
The main contributors to India's air pollution crisis include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power plants, waste burning, and the use of traditional fuels such as wood and cow dung for cooking and heating, particularly in rural areas. The unique geography of northern India, with the Himalayas forming a barrier, further exacerbates the issue by preventing the dispersal of pollutants.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Indian government has taken several steps to address air pollution. In 2019, India declared a "war against pollution" and launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024. The target was subsequently revised to a more ambitious 40% reduction by 2025-2026, focusing on 131 cities with poor air quality. The World Bank is also supporting India's efforts by introducing tools for airshed management and planning to improve air quality at the state and regional levels.
Despite these efforts, the air pollution crisis in India remains a complex and ongoing challenge. The private sector and businesses have been criticized for their minimal engagement in tackling this issue. However, there is growing recognition that businesses have a significant role to play in finding solutions and improving air quality monitoring and data accessibility.
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The economic impact of pollution
India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, posing a significant threat to the country's health and economy. All of India's 1.4 billion people are exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant, which has serious health impacts and economic costs associated with it.
The high levels of air pollution in India have been linked to the country's rapid economic and population growth, with industry contributing significantly to elevated PM2.5 levels. Agriculture, power plants, households, and transport also contribute to air pollution levels, particularly the formation of secondary PM2.5, which spreads widely across states and cities. The impact of air pollution on health, including increased mortality and morbidity rates, has a direct economic impact in terms of lost output and productivity. This results in significant economic losses for the country, highlighting the importance of effective pollution control strategies and the potential benefits of improved air quality for both public health and the economy.
To address the economic impact of pollution, India has taken steps to reduce air pollution levels, recognizing the connection between environmental challenges and economic growth. In 2019, India launched its National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024, with a focus on improving air quality in 102 cities. In 2022, the Indian government announced a revamped NCAP target, increasing the ambition at the city level, with a new goal of a 40% reduction in particulate pollution for 131 cities by 2025-26. This revised target, if met, is expected to have significant health and economic benefits, including extending the life expectancy of India's population.
Overall, the economic impact of pollution in India is substantial, with air pollution resulting in high economic losses and contributing to health issues that further impact the economy. The country has recognized the importance of addressing this issue and is implementing measures to reduce pollution levels, with potential positive effects on both public health and economic growth.
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The role of businesses and the private sector
India is one of the world's most polluted countries, with air pollution levels that are among the highest globally. This is a serious environmental issue, posing a heavy threat to the country's health and economy. Of the world's 30 most polluted cities, 17 were in India in 2019, and in 2022, several Indian cities ranked as the most polluted cities in the world. Delhi, India's capital, has the poorest air quality among capital cities worldwide.
The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power generation, waste burning, and the burning of wood and dung for cooking and heating by low-income and rural households. India's air pollution is a multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional issue, requiring collaboration between various sectors and states.
- Emissions Reporting and Reduction: Businesses have a responsibility to manage and report their air emissions. The Confederation of India Industry developed the Corporate Air Emissions Reporting Guide to assist companies in this process. Additionally, the world's first-ever market for particulate emissions was launched in India, where businesses emitting more particulate matter than allowed must purchase permits from less polluting companies. This approach incentivizes cleaner practices and ensures that heavy polluters bear higher costs.
- Collaboration and Innovation: The Clean Air Fund, for example, works with the private sector, government, and research organizations to achieve India's clean air goals. They facilitate collaboration between private sector leaders, healthcare practitioners, and government departments to improve air quality data, monitoring, and management. Businesses can also contribute by adopting innovative technologies and sustainable practices to minimize their emissions and protect vulnerable individuals.
- Community Engagement: Businesses can empower local communities to monitor air quality using low-cost sensors and mobile apps, enabling them to advocate for policy changes and implement interventions. They can also support community-led initiatives, such as green infrastructure projects, art and awareness campaigns, and mobile health clinics in highly polluted areas.
- Sustainable Practices: Companies can make a significant impact by adopting sustainable practices within their operations and supply chains. This includes reducing vehicle emissions by encouraging carpooling, using electric vehicles, and promoting the use of public transportation. Additionally, businesses can support clean air initiatives in their communities and advocate for the adoption of clean technologies, such as solar cookers and biogas stoves, particularly in rural areas.
- Capacity Building: The private sector can contribute by investing in capacity-building initiatives. This includes providing technical assistance and sharing knowledge with governments and communities to enhance their ability to address air pollution effectively.
While businesses have a crucial role to play, their engagement with the issue has been minimal. Strong collaboration between the private sector, government, and communities is essential to successfully tackle India's air pollution challenge and drive positive change for the health and well-being of its citizens.
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The government's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
India has some of the highest air pollution levels in the world, with 1.3 to 1.4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM2.5, the most harmful pollutant. This has resulted in severe health and economic consequences, with 1.67 million deaths attributable to air pollution in 2019 and economic losses of US$36.8 billion.
In 2019, the Indian government declared a "war against pollution" and launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to address this critical issue. NCAP is India's flagship program aimed at improving air quality in 122 cities. The program focuses on reducing particulate pollution, specifically targeting cities that are not meeting the country's national annual PM5 standard, termed "non-attainment cities".
The original goal of NCAP was to achieve a 20-30% reduction in particulate pollution by 2024 relative to 2017 levels, with an initial focus on 102 cities. However, in 2022, the government announced a more ambitious target. The revamped goal aims for a 40% reduction relative to 2017 levels by 2025-2026, expanding the scope to include 131 non-attainment cities. This increased ambition reflects India's commitment to tackling air pollution and improving the health and well-being of its citizens.
To achieve these targets, NCAP involves the implementation of clean air action plans. These plans address various sources of pollution, including vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, thermal power plants, construction dust, waste burning, and the use of dirty fuels for cooking. The plans also consider the institutional nature of interventions, with actions overseen and coordinated by relevant authorities. However, there are limitations to the plans, with few outlining the financial requirements for execution and a lack of integrated information on source contributions for formulating control strategies.
To further enhance the effectiveness of NCAP, recommendations have been made. These include mandating regular updates on emission and pollution levels, granting fiscal autonomy to local bodies to maintain air quality infrastructure, and shifting from a city-centric to an airshed-centric approach. An airshed refers to a region that shares a common flow of air, and addressing pollution within these regions can lead to more effective strategies. Standardizing tools and data sets across India is also crucial for successful sub-national-level action.
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The impact of pollution on health
India has some of the highest air pollution levels in the world, and it is the leading cause of health issues and death in the country. The air pollution in India is caused by vehicular pollution, industrial emissions, thermal power plants, construction dust, waste burning, and poor households burning cheap and dirty fuels. These pollutants include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
The health impacts of air pollution in India are significant, with 1.67 million deaths attributable to air pollution in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of total deaths in the country. The economic losses due to premature mortality and morbidity from air pollution were US$28.8 billion and $8 billion, respectively, in 2019. The health effects of air pollution include respiratory infections, lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The economic burden of air pollution is also substantial, with lost productivity and increased healthcare costs. In addition, air pollution disproportionately affects women, newborns, and young children.
Chest surgeon Arvind Kumar of New Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has witnessed a shift in the profiles of lung cancer patients over the past six years, with half of his patients being non-smokers and 40% being women. Dr Kumar attributes this shift to the high levels of air pollution in northern India, with teenage lungs showing black deposits that would have been unheard of thirty years ago.
The Indian government has recognized the severity of the problem and has implemented various measures to combat air pollution and improve air quality. In 2019, India declared a "war against pollution" with the launch of its National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024. The government has also introduced programs to improve access to clean energy options, such as LPG, for marginalized communities.
While India is taking steps to address air pollution, the problem persists and continues to impact the health and well-being of its citizens. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and the situation is even worse in certain areas, such as the National Capital Territory of Delhi, where air pollution shortens lives by 11.9 years.
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Frequently asked questions
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, but not the most polluted. In 2018, India was deemed the most polluted country, with the situation being worse than neighbouring China. However, as of 2024, India is the second most polluted country in the world.
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 for cooking and heating. 51% of India's air pollution is caused by industrial pollution, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning and 5% by other sources.
All of India's 1.4 billion people are exposed to unhealthy levels of ambient PM 2.5, the most harmful pollutant. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years. Air pollution is the leading cause of death in India, with 1.67 million deaths attributable to air pollution in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of total deaths in the country.
In 2019, India declared a "war against pollution" and launched its National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally by 2024. The target was later revised to 40% by 2025-2026. The World Bank is also introducing tools for airshed management and planning to support state and regional air quality management approaches.
Lost output from premature deaths and morbidity attributable to air pollution accounted for economic losses of up to $36.8 billion in 2019, which was 1.36% of India's gross domestic product (GDP). If India had achieved safe air quality levels in 2019, its GDP would have increased by $95 billion.
