Meghan Hodges
India and the USA are two of the world's biggest producers of greenhouse gases. However, the USA is much more developed than India and has lower pollution levels. India's pollution levels are largely due to the burning of agricultural stubble, which is a cheap method of clearing fields before planting the next crop. This, combined with other pollutants, has resulted in over 1.6 million deaths attributed to poor air quality in 2019. In comparison, the USA has better infrastructure and civic sense, resulting in cleaner cities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution levels | India has worse air pollution than the US. Of the world's most polluted 30 cities, 22 are in India. Indians are exposed to an average of 83.2 μg/cubic metre of PM2.5 pollutants, compared to 8 μg/cubic metre in cleaner countries. |
| Causes | India's pollution is largely due to the burning of agricultural stubble and garbage, and vehicle emissions. The US has better infrastructure and recycling systems. |
| Initiatives | India introduced the "odd/even" rule in 2017 to reduce car usage in New Delhi. India also aims to introduce 1,000 electric buses and increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. |
| Health Impact | Air pollution caused over 1.6 million deaths in India in 2019 from strokes, diabetes, lung cancer, and myocardial infarctions. It was also the main cause of death for more than 100,000 infants. |
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What You'll Learn
India's pollution is worse than China's due to agricultural burning
India's pollution problem is well-known, with the country experiencing extreme pollution levels in recent years. Of the world's 30 most polluted cities, 22 are in India, according to research by IQ AirVisual and Greenpeace. This is largely due to a mix of factors, including traffic, fossil fuel-burning power plants, and heavy industries. However, one key factor that differentiates India from China is the burning of agricultural stubble by farmers to clear their fields.
Agricultural burning is a significant contributor to India's poor air quality. In contrast, China has banned all agricultural burning, recognizing its detrimental impact on the environment. The Indian government has attempted to address this issue, with the Supreme Court ordering a stop to stubble burning in the states around Delhi. Unfortunately, the city's pollution problem is exacerbated by the colder winter air, which is more stagnant and traps pollutants in place.
The practice of agricultural burning is common in the Punjab region of India. Winds carry the smoke from these fires eastward to cities like Delhi, resulting in extremely poor air quality. The Himalayas act as a barrier, preventing the polluted air from dispersing northward. While agricultural fires are a convenient scapegoat, the real culprits are transport and biofuel burning in urban areas, including trash fires.
India's poor air quality is also attributed to its business practices and environmental standards. The country has a large manufacturing sector and a huge population in a relatively small area compared to China. The government's attempt to increase crop production in the 1990s by planting winter wheat on previously used land led to the burning of old crop stalks as the quickest method of clearing fields. While new approaches, such as specialized machinery to recycle crop leftovers, are being introduced, the adoption of these technologies has been slow due to cost and convenience.
The impact of crop residue burning extends beyond India, with neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan also experiencing increased PM2.5 exposure due to Indian agricultural fires. India's pollution problem is made worse by its reactivity rather than proactivity in addressing the issues. The country often reacts to pollution spikes instead of implementing preventative measures to stop problems from occurring in the first place.
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India's pollution is worse than the USA's due to poor civic sense
India's pollution problem is significantly worse than that of the USA, and this can be attributed to a variety of factors, including poor civic sense, a lack of proactive governance, and the burning of agricultural stubble.
Firstly, India's pollution levels are exacerbated by a lack of civic sense among some of its citizens. This is evident in the rampant littering and illegal burning of garbage that occurs throughout the country. For example, a visitor to India noted that their shoes were covered in dirt within a few hours of arriving in the country, highlighting the contrast with Singapore, where roadsides are kept clean and covered in grass or concrete. This lack of civic sense contributes to the visible pollution that plagues many Indian cities.
Secondly, India's government has been criticized for its reactive rather than proactive approach to pollution control. While there have been attempts to improve air quality, such as the introduction of cleaner fuels and the "odd/even" rule for cars in New Delhi, enforcement of rules has been lacking. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, introduced in the early '80s, has failed to make a significant impact due to poor enforcement. In contrast, countries like China and some European nations have been more proactive in tackling pollution, implementing complete bans on agricultural burning and taking preventative measures to stop pollution problems from occurring in the first place.
Another critical factor contributing to India's severe pollution is the widespread burning of agricultural stubble. Farmers often burn huge amounts of stubble in autumn to clear their fields, as it is a cheaper alternative to ploughing. This practice releases massive amounts of smoke and pollutants into the air, worsening the air quality, especially in northern cities like Delhi. The situation is made even worse by the colder winter air, which is more stagnant and traps these pollutants in place.
While India has set goals to reduce air pollution, including introducing electrically powered buses and encouraging the use of Liquid Natural Gas, the country continues to struggle with extreme pollution levels that far exceed those of the USA. The poor civic sense of some citizens, coupled with a lack of proactive governance and the persistent burning of agricultural stubble, has led to a dire situation where Indians are exposed to dangerously high levels of pollutants and face serious health consequences as a result.
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Delhi's pollution is exacerbated by cold, stagnant winter air
India has some of the most polluted cities in the world. Of the world's 30 most polluted cities, 22 are in India. The air pollution in Delhi, the capital of India, was found to be the most harmful of any major city globally in an August 2022 survey of 7,000 cities.
Delhi's pollution is largely attributed to a combination of natural and human-made pollutants. The city's pollution is exacerbated by cold, stagnant winter air, which traps pollutants and prevents them from dispersing. This temperature inversion, coupled with low wind speeds in winter, worsens the pollution levels in Delhi.
During the winter, farmers in neighbouring states burn crop residue, releasing smoke that, combined with wind patterns, significantly contributes to Delhi's air pollution. The burning of local organic waste, including wood and agricultural waste for heating, also increases during the winter, further adding to the pollution.
Vehicle emissions are another critical factor in Delhi's winter pollution. The rush of traffic, particularly the shift to private transport due to the fear of the COVID-19 virus, exacerbates the problem. Additionally, construction activities, landfills, and agricultural practices release dust particles, increasing the particulate matter in the air.
The severe air pollution in Delhi poses serious health risks to its citizens, impacting their well-being in both the short and long term. The poor air quality has irreversibly damaged the lungs of 2.2 million children in the city. It is estimated that India loses more than a million lives annually due to air pollution, making it the fifth largest cause of death in the country.
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India has 22 of the world's 30 most polluted cities
In comparison, American cities and towns nationally averaged 9.1 micrograms in 2023, which represents a 30% cleanup from the 13.5 micrograms per cubic meter recorded in 2000. Big American cities range from Chicago's relatively smoky 13.0 micrograms to Tucson's desert-fresh 3.8 micrograms. San Juan in Puerto Rico has the cleanest air among American cities, with a reading of 2.7 micrograms.
While the United States has made significant improvements in reducing pollution levels, India continues to struggle with extreme pollution levels, particularly in its northern region. The pollution in Indian cities is comparable to historical pollution levels in London during the 19th and early 20th centuries, which resulted in thousands of deaths. The high levels of pollution in India have severe health impacts, with the World Bank estimating that it causes or exacerbates enough illnesses to lead to 1.67 million premature deaths in the country each year.
The Indian government has taken some steps to address the pollution problem, with the Supreme Court ordering a stop to stubble burning in the states around Delhi. However, India has been criticized for being largely reactive rather than proactive in tackling the issue. Experts believe that implementing policies to address the various sources of pollution, such as agricultural burning, brick kilns, rubbish burning, crop residue burn-off, and vehicle emissions, can help improve air quality in India.
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India is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases
While India is the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, it is important to note that its per-capita emissions remain well below the global average. India has the lowest per-capita emissions in the G20, at just 1.9 tCO₂ per person, which is roughly an eighth of what the average American emits per year. India's contribution to historical cumulative CO₂ emissions is also relatively low at just three percent.
In comparison, the United States has higher per-capita emissions, with the average American emitting around eight times more than the average Indian. The United States has also contributed significantly more to historical cumulative CO₂ emissions, with a much higher share of global emissions than India. However, it is worth noting that the United States has made efforts to reduce its emissions in recent years, with per-capita emissions peaking and energy emissions growth slowing down since 2013.
Despite being the third-largest producer of greenhouse gases, India has pledged to reduce its emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The country has committed to a 33-35% reduction in the "emissions intensity" of its economy by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. India is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly due to the melting of the Himalayan glaciers and changes in the monsoon, which could have significant impacts on the country's agriculture and water resources.
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Frequently asked questions
No, India is more polluted than the USA. India has 22 of the world's 30 most polluted cities. Indians are exposed to an average of 83.2 μg/cubic metre of PM2.5 pollutants, compared to a much lower 8 μg/cubic metre in cleaner countries.
There are several reasons why India is more polluted than the USA. Firstly, India has a lot of burning of agricultural stubble when farmers clear their fields, which is illegal but common. Secondly, there is a lack of enforcement of environmental rules and poor compliance with international environmental agreements. Thirdly, India has a lower share of local government revenue, which impacts the ability to fund clean-up projects. Finally, India has a less developed economy and infrastructure, which contributes to higher pollution levels.
India is taking several steps to reduce air pollution. The government in New Delhi introduced the "odd/even" rule in 2017 to reduce traffic congestion and associated emissions. India also plans to introduce over 1,000 electrically powered buses and upgrade engines using fossil fuels to meet stringent BS6 standards. By 2023, India aims for 25% of all privately owned vehicles on its roads to be electric, and for all power plants to use renewable energy.
