The 2024 report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, the 8th edition, reveals that 16 lakh deaths in India in 2021 were due to air pollution.
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- India was the world’s second-highest emitter of PM2.5 in 2022 based on both consumption and production-based accounting:
- India contributed 15.8 percent of the world’s consumption-based PM2.5 emissions.
- The report also underlined that India contributed 16.9 percent of the world’s production-based PM2.5 emissions.
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Pollutants Contributing to Poor Air Quality
- PM 2.5: PM 2.5 refers to Particulate Matter that is less than 2.5 micrometres and can directly enter the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks.
- Sources of PM2.5
- Combustion Processes: Emissions from vehicles, power plants, industrial facilities, and residential heating.
- Natural Sources: Wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms.
- Secondary Particulates: Formed in the atmosphere from chemical reactions involving gases such as sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂): Released due to emissions from vehicles, industrial processes, and combustion of fossil fuels.
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂): Sources include burning of fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, and volcanic eruptions.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): It is a Colourless, odourless gas that is toxic at high concentrations released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, primarily from vehicles and industrial processes.
- Ozone (O₃): A gas composed of three oxygen atoms, commonly found in the Earth’s stratosphere and at ground level.
- Formed by chemical reactions between NOₓ and VOCs in the presence of sunlight.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Organic chemicals that have a high vapour pressure at room temperature, leading to significant vapour emissions.
- Emissions from vehicles, industrial processes, and products like paints and solvents.
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Key Findings from the 2024 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change
- Air Pollution Related Mortality in India: In 2021, air pollution caused 1.6 million deaths in India.
- Fossil fuels like coal and liquid gas contributed to 38% of these deaths.
- Heat Stress and Extreme Temperature Exposure
About the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Report
- Annual Publication: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change is an annual international publication that monitors the health impacts of climate change and assesses the fulfilment of commitments made by governments under the Paris Agreement.
- The Lancet Countdown report was established following the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change.
- Collaborative Effort: The Report is funded by Wellcome and developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and various other institutions.
- Indicators and Domains: The report tracks 53 indicators across five domains:
- Climate change impacts, exposures, and vulnerability
- Adaptation, planning, and resilience for health
- Mitigation actions and health co-benefits
- Economics and finance
- Public and political engagement
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- In 2023, Indians faced moderate to high heat stress for 2,400 hours or 100 days during light outdoor activities, such as walking.
- From 2014-2023, infants and adults over 65 experienced 7.7 and 8.4 heatwave days per year, respectively, marking a 47% and 58% increase from 1990-1999.
- Impact on Labour and Economy
- In 2023, heat exposure led to the loss of 181 billion potential labour hours, translating to an economic loss of approximately $141 billion in labour capacity.
- Global Heat Threats and Climate-Driven Health Risks
- People worldwide faced 50 more days of health-threatening temperatures than expected in 2023 due to climate change.
- Extreme drought affected 48% of the global land area, the second-highest level recorded, worsening food insecurity for millions.
- Increased Disease Transmission Due to Climate Change
- The transmission potential for dengue, spread by Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, rose by 85% from 1951-1960 to 2014-2023.
- Coastal areas suitable for Vibrio pathogens (linked to cholera) expanded by 23% compared to 1990-1999, affecting over 210 million people near coastal waters.
- Record-Breaking Global Heat in 2023
- 2023 was the hottest year on record, with severe droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, storms, and floods impacting global health and livelihoods.
- Heat-related deaths, especially in those over the age of 65 years, rose by 167% over the 1990s.
- Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Pollution
- Continued fossil fuel and biomass use worsens air quality, raising risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and other health issues.
- Progress and Need for Renewable Energy
- Renewable energy in India supplied 11% of electricity in 2022, a record high.
- Despite this, 71% of India’s electricity still comes from coal, highlighting the urgent need for accelerated transition to clean energy.
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Initiatives Taken For Reducing Air Pollution In India
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) implements the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a national strategy to reduce air pollution across India.
- Under NCAP, City Specific Clean Air Action Plans for 131 non-attainment/million plus cities have been prepared to improve air quality.
- Implementation of City Action Plans is funded through the convergence of resources from various Central Government schemes, including:
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart City Mission, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) etc.
- BS VI Emission Norms: Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) norms are emissions standards set by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine vehicles.
- These norms aim to reduce vehicular pollution and improve air quality.
- BS-VI norms significantly lower permissible limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from diesel and petrol vehicles.
- System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR): SAFAR is a national initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city, by measuring the overall pollution level and the location-specific air quality of the city.
- Others:
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- Notification of National Ambient Air Quality and effluent discharge standards;
- Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels (such as CNG/LPG);
- Ethanol blending program (EBP): To promote the use of ethanol as a renewable and environment-friendly fuel in petrol.
- Revision of emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time,
- Promotion of cleaner production processes;
- Incentives for production and use of hybrid and electric vehicles;
- Banning open burning of leaves, biomass and waste; and
- Constitution of the Commission on Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.
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October 31, 2024
