Helena Joyce
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 21 of the 30 cities with the worst air pollution. The capital, New Delhi, has the poorest air quality among capital cities globally. India's air pollution levels are rising at an alarming rate, impacting the economy and people's quality of life. The largest source of air pollution in India is the residential sector, with burning solid fuels like firewood, charcoal, dung, and crop residues for cooking, heating, and lighting being the leading cause of ambient particulate pollution. Industrial emissions, construction dust, vehicular emissions, and power plant emissions are also major contributors to India's air pollution crisis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Harmful pollutants | PM2.5, SOx, NOx, carbon-containing gases |
| Largest source of air pollution | Industrial and vehicular emissions (51% and 27% respectively) |
| Other sources | Construction dust and debris, burning of biomass, waste burning, crop burning, power plant emissions, thermal power for electricity |
| Health impacts | Respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, COPD, heart attack |
| Economic impact | US$36.8 billion in economic losses in 2019 |
| Government initiatives | Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna, National Clean Air Programme, National Air Quality Index, The Great Green Wall of Aravalli |
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What You'll Learn
- Household sources of air pollution, including burning solid fuels like wood, coal, and biomass
- Industrial emissions, including from unregulated small-scale industries burning biomass, plastic, and crude oil
- Vehicle emissions, which are higher in the real world than in lab tests
- Power plant emissions, particularly from burning coal for power generation
- Construction dust and debris, as well as windblown dust from roads and industrial plants
Household sources of air pollution, including burning solid fuels like wood, coal, and biomass
India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, severely impacting the country's health and economy. In 2019, air pollution caused 1.67 million deaths in India, with economic losses totalling $36.8 billion.
Household sources, including the burning of solid fuels like wood, coal, and biomass, are significant contributors to India's air pollution crisis. Approximately three billion people worldwide rely on biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues, and dung) and coal as their primary energy source for cooking and heating. This is particularly prevalent in poor rural communities in India, where solid fuels are burned in inefficient and poorly ventilated settings, leading to high exposure to toxic byproducts. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that exposure to indoor smoke from solid fuels is a critical health risk factor.
The carbon-containing gases released from burning biomass fuels are significantly more reactive than cleaner alternatives like liquefied petroleum gas. India is the world's largest consumer of fuel wood, agricultural waste, and biomass for energy, with an annual consumption of 148.7 million tonnes. This contributes to the formation of secondary particulate matter, which spreads across vast areas, exacerbating the pollution challenge.
The Indian government has implemented programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna to improve access to clean energy options, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), for marginalised communities. Additionally, initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme aim to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20%-30% by 2024.
While transitioning away from biomass and solid fuels is crucial, it is important to note that even "clean" fuels like propane emit carbon dioxide when burned. Nevertheless, addressing household sources of air pollution by providing access to cleaner energy options and improving ventilation in rural homes can significantly reduce air pollution levels and associated health risks in India.
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Industrial emissions, including from unregulated small-scale industries burning biomass, plastic, and crude oil
India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, severely impacting the country's health and economy. Industrial emissions are a major contributor to India's poor air quality. About 51% of India's air pollution is caused by industrial pollution, with unregulated small-scale industries burning biomass, plastic, and crude oil being a significant part of the problem.
Unregulated Small-Scale Industries Burning Biomass
India's industrial sector, including the production of cement, iron, and steel, is a major contributor to global emissions. From 2000 to 2014, fuel consumption in this sector surged by 406%, reflecting its rapid expansion and escalating energy demands. India is the world's largest consumer of fuelwood, agricultural waste, and biomass for energy purposes. The burning of biomass fuels releases carbon-containing gases that are far more reactive than cleaner fuels like liquefied petroleum gas. In 2017, coal was banned in the National Capital Region (NCR), and industries began turning to biomass as a cheaper alternative. By 2023, about 81% of the 398 industrial units operating in Panipat had converted to biomass, with similar trends observed in other small-scale industries around New Delhi. These industries are experimenting with agricultural waste, such as rice husk and groundnut briquettes, as fuel. However, the switch to biomass has led to concerns about rising prices and fluctuations in the supply of crop residue, limiting its wider adoption.
Burning of Plastic
While data specifically on the burning of plastic by small-scale industries is scarce, it is important to note that India's per capita emissions of greenhouse gases are significantly below the global average. India emitted about 3 gigatonnes of CO2eq of greenhouse gases annually in 2013 and 2014, with emissions per person being about half the world average. This indicates that, in addition to industrial emissions, other sources, such as waste management and household activities, likely contribute to India's air pollution problem.
Crude Oil
India has a high import dependence for crude oil, with an 82.8% import dependence as of 2023. While India has crude oil reserves, its domestic production has been declining steadily since 2011-2012. The country was the second-largest net importer of crude oil in 2019 and the third-largest importer in 2023. The Indian government aims to reduce its import dependence by promoting local hydrocarbon exploration, renewable energy, and indigenous ethanol fuel. However, until renewable energy sources are adequately developed, India will continue to rely heavily on crude oil imports, contributing to air pollution through industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust.
To address air pollution, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives, such as the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20-30% by 2024. Additionally, India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, committing to reducing emission intensity by a third by 2030. These efforts, along with the development of renewable energy sources, are crucial steps towards improving air quality and mitigating the health and economic impacts of air pollution in India.
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Vehicle emissions, which are higher in the real world than in lab tests
India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, posing a significant threat to the country's health and economy. Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to this issue, accounting for about 27% of India's air pollution. As the country's economy grows and more people aspire to own vehicles, annual car sales are expected to triple by 2030, leading to an increase in exposure to vehicular exhaust emissions.
To address this challenge, India has implemented reforms to improve vehicle testing procedures and control real-world emissions. However, studies have shown that real-world vehicle emissions are much higher than laboratory test results suggest. For example, Class II light goods vehicles emit up to 14.2 times their NOx lab limits, while taxis emit four times the amount. Commercial vehicles, such as taxis and light goods vehicles, emit much more NOx than private cars, even if they meet the same emission standards.
The discrepancy between laboratory tests and real-world emissions highlights the need for improved emissions measurement procedures. India has adopted the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedures (WLTP), a global standard for determining pollutant levels from internal combustion engine and hybrid cars. Additionally, the country is exploring the use of remote sensing technology to measure vehicle exhaust emissions in real-time and on a mass scale.
To reduce vehicular emissions and improve air quality, India has leapfrogged to BS-VI emissions standards for new vehicles. However, it is crucial to ensure that these vehicles remain low-emitting when driven on roads. The transition to alternative fuels, such as CNG, has shown some success in reducing toxic particulate emissions from diesel vehicles. However, CNG vehicles without adequate controls can still emit high levels of NOx, underscoring the need for further transitions, such as electrification, to achieve zero tailpipe emissions.
While India explores various solutions to reduce vehicle emissions, it is clear that a multi-pronged approach is necessary to address the complex issue of air pollution in the country effectively.
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Power plant emissions, particularly from burning coal for power generation
India's air pollution levels are among the highest in the world, threatening the country's health and economy. In 2019, 1.67 million deaths were attributed to air pollution in India, with economic losses totalling $36.8 billion.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, the Indian government has implemented several measures to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has targeted significant reductions in PM, sulfur oxide (SOx), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The government's plan includes retrofitting 440 power units of 166.5 Gigawatts (GW) capacity with flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems by December 2022. This technology is expected to significantly reduce SOx emissions, for which India is the largest emitter globally.
However, India's overall energy demand is growing, and coal remains a crucial component of its energy mix. Despite ambitious renewable energy targets, coal use is projected to increase. India has nearly 30 coal-fired power plants under construction, and existing power plants have the capacity to ramp up coal use. While some new coal plants will replace older, more polluting stations, the additional coal-fired power plants will contribute to total emissions in the coming years.
To effectively address air pollution from power plant emissions, India must accelerate its transition away from coal. This includes meeting renewable energy targets, optimising the power grid with batteries, and implementing policies and technologies to reduce air pollution. By taking these comprehensive steps, India can improve its air quality, mitigate health risks, and reduce the economic impacts associated with power plant emissions from coal-fired power generation.
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Construction dust and debris, as well as windblown dust from roads and industrial plants
India's air pollution problem is multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional, requiring an "airshed" approach. An airshed can be defined as a region that shares a common flow of air, which may become uniformly polluted and stagnant. Air quality within an airshed will depend on pollution sources within it. As the formation of secondary particles and the transportation of primary and secondary particles occur over large geographic areas, airsheds can extend over several hundred kilometres, beyond city boundaries.
Construction dust and debris are major contributors to air pollution in India. A study on particulate pollution in Delhi found that the city generates 5,000 MT of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste daily, with 2,000 MT produced in north Delhi alone. The study also found that five out of 19 construction sites had PM10 levels four times the prescribed limit, while 14 others had levels three times the normal amount. The health impacts of such pollution are significant, with an estimated 7,350-16,200 premature deaths and 6 million asthma attacks occurring annually in Delhi due to high PM levels.
Windblown dust from roads and industrial plants also contributes to India's air pollution. While the country has strengthened vehicular and industrial emission standards, windblown dust from roads and industrial activity can spread beyond city limits, affecting air quality in surrounding regions.
To address these issues, India has implemented programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna, which aims to provide LPG cooking fuel to millions of households. The Government of India's National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has also set time-bound goals for improving air quality across the country, focusing on 132 cities where air pollution standards are not being met.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest source of air pollution in India is a combination of industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the burning of wood and dung by low-income and rural households 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.
Air pollution is a major health concern in India, causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, lung cancer, and heart attacks. It disproportionately affects women, newborns, and young children. In 2019, air pollution was responsible for 1.67 million deaths in India, accounting for 17.8% of total deaths in the country.
Recognizing the severity of the issue, India has implemented several initiatives to combat air pollution. The government launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, aiming to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20-30% by 2024. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana initiative provides clean cooking fuel to disadvantaged households to reduce household air pollution. India is also developing the Great Green Wall of Aravalli, a 1,600-kilometer-long ecological corridor to combat pollution.
