Friday, February 14th, 2025

Heavy pollution in every breath, poison hidden behind the air… India will have to think now

Author: Soumya Swaminathan
At the COP29 conference in Baku, world leaders pledged to reduce emissions to tackle climate change, but at the same time the air quality in India’s Ganga plains worsened. This highlights a double crisis. An environmental emergency and a public health crisis, costing India over a million lives annually and 1.6%-1.8% of its GDP. Globally, 9 out of 10 people are breathing air that does not meet WHO standards. The biggest challenge for India is to reduce the effects of air pollution while pursuing development. The solution lies in science-based actions, inspired by global successes and tailored to India’s unique needs.

What should we do?

You can’t fix what you can’t measure. Identifying pollution sources is important for effective solutions. Research by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has identified the main culprits. Smoke from vehicles, industrial pollution, crop burning and dust from construction work. Countries like the UAE and the US use emissions inventories to track pollutants. Beijing’s Clean Air Action Plan reduced PM2.5 levels by 35% in just five years. India’s National Clean Air Program (NCAP) aims to reduce PM 2.5 and 10 levels by 40% by 2026. To drive real change we need strong data (on pollutants and emissions at source), clear rules, ambitious targets and accountability.

Air pollution is a ‘glocal’ problem—global in reach but local in solutions. So, what are the strategies we can adopt?
1. Greening urban mobility:India’s transport sector is responsible for 2.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. There are lessons from Norway, where 54% of new cars are electric, and Copenhagen, where 62% of people cycle daily. EV sales in India grew by 42% in FY24, but much more remains to be done. Expanding the FAME scheme, encouraging EV adoption, and enhancing public transport and cycling infrastructure.

2. Clean Industry and Energy:Industrial pollution contributes 30–35% of India’s CO2 emissions, with coal power plants responsible for 60% of it. China’s ‘war on pollution’ reduced urban emissions by 40% by switching to renewable energy and implementing stricter pollution controls. India should phase out coal, retrofit factories and empower regulators to enforce standards.

3. Agriculture and stubble burning:Burning of stubble releases harmful pollutants like CO2, CO and particulate matter. In India, it contributes to emissions of 149 million tonnes of CO2 annually. In Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, large agribusinesses have adopted no-burn farming methods and residue management techniques such as mulching and the use of biochar. This success was driven by a combination of strict environmental regulations and farmer subsidies. India should encourage farmers to adopt clean technologies (developed by ICAR and others), and expand crop residue management schemes.

4. Civil Power: Clean air requires collective action. India’s SAFAR platform provides real-time air quality updates, empowering citizens. South Korea has taken it further with ‘citizen inspectors’ and drones to monitor pollution. India must innovate, create participatory platforms where citizens become game-changers in the fight for clean air.

5. Sustainable Financing: Global funding for air pollution is limited, with less than 1% of international climate finance allocated to it between 2015 and 2021. However, the Government of India has allocated Rs 948 crore for pollution control in the Union Budget for 2023-24, which is 64% more than the previous year. We need to ensure that these funds are used effectively, leveraging innovative financing models such as green bonds to support public transport, urban greening and renewable energy projects. The World Bank has committed $1.5 billion to the Ganga plain states and the UP Cabinet has approved the setting up of the Clean Air Management Authority aimed at reducing PM 2.5.

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