A grim reality has been unveiled by the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report, released by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute. Despite a 19.3% drop in particulate levels in 2022 compared to 2021, the average Indian resident is projected to lose 3.4 years of life expectancy due to persistent air pollution. This alarming figure highlights the devastating impact of air pollution on public health in India, a country with a vast population and significant industrial activity.
The report emphasizes that while Bangladesh holds the title of the most polluted country overall, India faces the most severe health burden due to the sheer scale of its population exposed to polluted air. The northern plains, home to over half a billion people, are particularly vulnerable, with residents facing an estimated loss of 5.4 years of life expectancy if pollution levels remain unchanged. This region, encompassing nearly 40% of India’s population, saw a 17.2% decrease in particulate levels in 2022, but the improvement remains insufficient to reverse the detrimental effects on health.
Beyond the northern plains, other states bearing the brunt of air pollution include Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The combined population of these states, totaling 292.3 million, is experiencing an average loss of 2.9 years of life expectancy. These statistics underscore the widespread nature of the air pollution crisis and its impact on the well-being of millions of Indians.
The report sheds light on the positive trends witnessed in South Asia in 2022, with an 18% decline in air pollution following two decades of worsening conditions. This improvement can be attributed, in part, to favorable meteorological factors, such as above-normal monsoon rainfall associated with La Niña. However, the report acknowledges that slight reductions in emissions from India’s residential and transport sectors also played a role in this improvement. Initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, promoting clean cooking, and efforts to decrease diesel use in transportation have contributed to these declines.
Despite these positive developments, the report underscores the urgency for continued mitigation efforts. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, aims to reduce particulate pollution levels by 40% by 2026 in 131 non-attainment cities. Achieving this goal could potentially add two years to life expectancy in these cities and an additional 7.8 months to the national average. Progress has been made, with pollution levels in these cities dropping by 18.8% since 2017, leading to a 10.8-month increase in life expectancy for 446.7 million residents and four months for the national average.
However, the report highlights the challenges India faces in its fight against air pollution. The number of vehicles on the road in India and Pakistan has quadrupled since the early 2000s, significantly contributing to emissions. Furthermore, fossil fuel-based electricity generation in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan tripled between 1998 and 2017. Other factors, such as crop burning, brick kilns, and industrial activities, continue to contribute to rising particulate emissions in the region.
Although global pollution declined in 2022, driven largely by the trend reversal in South Asia, the region remains the most polluted in the world. This alarming statistic underscores the need for urgent and comprehensive action to address air pollution and its devastating consequences for public health. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of a standardized framework for tracking city-level air pollution, highlighting the need for robust data and coordinated efforts to combat this global threat.
