Meghan Hodges
India is the world's second most polluted country, with 1.3 billion people living in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. The main contributors to India's air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, and the dependence on thermal power for electricity. In 2019, India launched its National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), aiming to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally relative to 2017 levels by 2024. Despite these efforts, India continues to struggle with poor air quality, particularly in northern cities such as Delhi, where air pollution shortens lives by an average of 5.3 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| India's rank in the list of most polluted countries | 2nd |
| Number of Indian cities among the 30 most polluted cities in the world | 21 |
| Number of Indians breathing air that is 10 times or more over the WHO safe limit | 140 million |
| Number of cities among the world's 20 cities with the highest annual levels of air pollution that are in India | 13 |
| Percentage of India's air pollution caused by industrial pollution | 51% |
| Percentage of India's air pollution caused by vehicles | 27% |
| Percentage of India's air pollution caused by crop burning | 17% |
| Number of deaths caused by worsening air pollution in 2019 | 1.67 million |
| Loss in output caused by worsening air pollution in 2019 | $28.8 billion |
| India's rank among countries most affected by climate change in 2019 | 7th |
| India's contribution to global emissions | 7% |
| India's contribution to global population | 17% |
| India's per capita emissions of greenhouse gases | Low |
| India's rank in global greenhouse gas producers | 3rd |
| India's current real-time AQI level | 87 (Moderate) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
India's air pollution crisis
India is the world's second most polluted country. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, and up to 11.9 years in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the most polluted city in the world. All of India's 1.3 billion people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. Air pollution is the greatest threat to human health in India, contributing to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.
The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, dependence on thermal power for electricity, waste burning, and the use 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. In rural areas, biomass burning for cooking and keeping warm is a significant source of pollution. A 2007 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) report states that the Indus River may run dry due to temperature rises on the Tibetan Plateau, which are causing Himalayan glaciers to retreat.
India's rapid urbanization and population density have led to increased use of automobiles and industrialization, exacerbating pollution. Urban sewage discharge, industrial effluents, and pesticides and fertilizers from farms have polluted water bodies, leading to water toxicity and ecosystem loss. The government has implemented initiatives to combat pollution, such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate pollution by 40% relative to 2017 levels in 131 cities by 2025-26. The Indian government also updated its emission regulation guidelines by introducing the Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emissions standards in 2020, ahead of schedule. These guidelines mandate the use of low-sulfur fuel and the installation of filters and catalytic converters in vehicles.
Despite these efforts, enforcement of regulations remains challenging. The availability of reliable and timely data on air pollution is an area where India can improve. Making these datasets more accessible would enable Indian citizens to actively participate in addressing this public health crisis.
The Dark Side of 3D Printing: Environmental Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Water pollution
Agricultural runoff is another major contributor to water pollution in India. The introduction of agrochemicals like HCH and DDT, which are banned worldwide due to their environmental damage, into water bodies can cause bioaccumulation as these chemicals are resistant to degradation. Pesticides are also a significant contaminant of water bodies in India, with scientific analysis indicating severe organic and bacterial contamination in water bodies from 1995 to 2008.
The problem of water pollution in India is exacerbated by inadequate waste treatment and poor sanitation practices. Around 70% of wastewater goes untreated, and each day, more than 40 million litres of wastewater flows into India's lakes, rivers, and oceans. Poor infrastructure and the absence of proper sewage control systems further contribute to the issue.
To address water pollution, India has been working to improve its wastewater treatment capacity. The market for wastewater treatment plants has been growing annually at a rate of 10 to 12 percent since 2005. Local startups and companies like VA Tech Wabag have also contributed to improving water treatment and reuse practices. These efforts are crucial in combating water pollution and ensuring access to clean water for India's vast population.
Farms vs Low-Income Apartments: Who's Polluting Whom?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Soil pollution
India is the world's second most polluted country, with 1.3 billion people living in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. While air pollution is a significant issue, soil pollution also poses a grave threat to the country's environment and people's health and well-being.
Soil degradation is a serious issue in India, which has massive repercussions for the country's agricultural economy and food security. Degradation of soil leads to damaging effects on the economy, the environment, food security, and health. India's rapid industrialization and over-enthusiasm to industrialize have contributed to soil pollution, with many states failing to enforce pollution laws. Industries often acquire fields and dump toxic effluents into them, contaminating the soil. Additionally, the overuse of chemical pesticides and fertilisers has poisoned crops and fields, causing the soil to lose its natural nutrients and become toxic.
The cutting down of forests, both legally and illegally, has also played a role in soil degradation. Soil erosion by wind and water is a significant issue, and the collapsing water table due to excessive farming has further exacerbated the problem. The political decision to provide free water to farmers resulted in over-irrigation, depleting water resources and contributing to soil degradation.
The Indian government has introduced soil health cards for farmers, but awareness and adoption of these initiatives remain low. Experts emphasize the need for strong political will to translate scientific knowledge into action to restore soil health. Soil conservation requires the involvement of local communities and the implementation of sustainable land use practices.
While India has made some efforts to address its pollution problem, such as launching the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, soil pollution has largely been ignored at the national level due to a lack of comprehensive information. However, sporadic research has been conducted on various aspects of pollution affecting soil quality, indicating that soil resources face threats from contaminated organics, amendment materials, irrigation water, and atmospheric deposits.
Ganga's Pollution: Religious Rituals and Their Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Government initiatives to reduce pollution
India is one of the most polluted countries in the world, with 1.3 billion people living in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline. In 2019, India declared a "war against pollution" and launched several initiatives to combat this issue. Here are some key government initiatives undertaken by India to reduce pollution:
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, with the initial goal of reducing particulate pollution by 20-30% nationally relative to 2017 levels by 2024. The programme focused on 102 cities that were not meeting India's national annual PM5 standard. In 2022, the Indian government revised the target, setting no national goal but increasing the ambition at the city level. The new goal aims for a 40% reduction relative to 2017 levels for 131 cities by 2025-26.
The Great Green Wall of Aravalli
The government has also embarked on an ecological initiative called The Great Green Wall of Aravalli. This project involves the planting of 1.35 billion native trees over a 10-year period along a 1,600-kilometre-long and 5-kilometre-wide corridor from Gujarat to Delhi, connecting to the Shivalik hill range.
National Air Quality Index
In 2015, the Government of India, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, introduced the National Air Quality Index to monitor and manage air quality more effectively.
India Lighthouse Initiative
As part of the India Lighthouse Initiative, Indian and international experts are exchanging knowledge and experiences to develop India-specific practices to address the air pollution problem.
Collaboration with the Clean Air Fund
The Indian government is working with the Clean Air Fund, which provides technical assistance to state and city governments to support their air quality management efforts. The fund also facilitates dialogue and information sharing between various stakeholders, including private sector leaders and healthcare practitioners.
Through these initiatives and collaborations, India is striving to reduce its pollution levels and improve the health and well-being of its citizens.
Plastic Pollution: Annual Global Crisis
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Impact of pollution on health
India is the world's second most polluted country. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens an average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m3. Some areas of India fare much worse than average, with air pollution reducing life expectancy by 11.9 years in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the world's most polluted city.
The main contributors to India's particulate air pollution include industrial and vehicular emissions, construction dust and debris, thermal power dependence for electricity, waste burning, and the use of wood and dung for cooking and heating by low-income and rural households. 51% of India's air pollution is caused by industrial pollution, with vehicles and crop burning contributing 27% and 17% respectively. Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.
The health impacts of air pollution in India are significant. According to the WHO, air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, with 9 out of 10 people breathing air containing high levels of pollutants. In India, air pollution is linked to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections, including pneumonia. Both ambient (outdoor) and household (indoor) air pollution are harmful to health, with indoor air pollution causing an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 deaths in India due to biomass burning and the use of chulhas (traditional cookstoves).
In addition to the direct health impacts, air pollution also has economic consequences for India. The economic loss due to premature mortality and morbidity impacts human capital stock, and the burden will increase in the coming years if air pollution continues to worsen. Climate change is expected to amplify the adverse impacts of air pollution, with atmospheric stagnation, increased PM2.5 concentration, and ground-level ozone formation likely to be particularly severe in India.
To address the issue of air pollution and its impact on health, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives. These include the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate pollution, and the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna, which aims to improve access to clean energy options like LPG for marginalized households. India has also launched the National Air Quality Index and partnered with institutions to study air pollution and develop solutions.
The Politics of Pollution: Who's Responsible?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
India is the world's second or third most polluted country, depending on the source. In 2022, the country recorded average PM2.5 concentrations of roughly 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 10 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended limit.
The main causes of pollution in India vary between rural and urban areas. In rural areas, biomass burning for cooking and keeping warm is a significant contributor to pollution. In urban areas, the main causes are industrial emissions, construction dust and debris, vehicular emissions, and dependence on thermal power for electricity.
Air pollution is believed to be the greatest threat to human health in India. It is estimated to cause the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year, shortening the average Indian's life expectancy by 5.3 years.
The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to address pollution, including the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce particulate pollution, and the National Air Quality Index, launched in 2015. The government has also updated emission regulation guidelines and implemented a vehicle scrappage policy to reduce harmful emissions.
India has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, but rapid urbanization and industrialization have negatively impacted the environment and the health of its inhabitants. In 2019, India was ranked as the seventh most affected country by climate change. Despite having 17% of the world's population, India emits 7% of global emissions.
