Air pollution and Indian life expectancy

An update on how Indians are losing their years due to air pollution, and an NCAP update

 Air pollution and Indian life expectancy

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• The story: Researchers keep calculating the potential impact of air pollution on human lives. Now, a study by University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute found how much longer a person can live if they breathe clean air, and said that India's high levels of air pollution have expanded geographically over time.
• Claims: The study claimed that air pollution was likely to reduce the life expectancy of about 40 per cent of Indians by more than nine years. It said that more than 48 crore people living in central, eastern and northern India, including Delhi, endure significantly high pollution levels. India's high levels of air pollution have "alarmingly expanded geographically over time".

1. The report highlighted the situation in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where an average person is now losing an additional 2.5 to 2.9 years of life expectancy.
2. To arrive at the life expectancy number, the researchers compared the health of people exposed to different levels of long-term air pollution and applied the results to various places in India and elsewhere.
3. The report said that if the pollution level 2019 continue, the people living in north India are on track to lose more than nine years of life expectancy.

• Pollution in figures: In 2019, India's average particulate matter concentration was 70.3 microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3 ), the highest in the world and seven times the World Health Organisation's (WHO) guideline of 10 μg/m3. The South Asian region, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, accounts for nearly a quarter of the global population and consistently rank among the top five most polluted countries in the world.

1. Due to South Asia's high population and pollution concentrations, the region accounts for 58 per cent of total life years lost due to particulate pollution exceeding the WHO guideline
2. It said that an average person in South Asia would live 5.6 years longer if pollution were reduced to meet the WHO guidelines.Lauding India's National Clean Air Program (NCAP), launched in 2019 to rein in dangerous pollution levels, the report said that "achieving and sustaining" the NCAP goals would raise the country's overall life expectancy by 1.7 years and that of New Delhi 3.1 years.

• NCAP: The Central Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across India in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration. Under NCAP, 122 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018. Air quality of cities is monitored by State Pollution Control Boards which publishes their results from time to time. Some Smart Cities have established Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) which are also connected to Air Quality Monitors (AQMs) for effective monitoring.

1. The NCAP aims to reduce pollution in the 102 worst-affected cities by 20%-30% by 2024 by ensuring cuts in industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust, introducing stringent rules for transport fuels and biomass burning and reduce dust pollution. It will also entail better monitoring systems.
2. Maharashtra has the most non-attainment cities (18) followed by Uttar Pradesh (15). Odisha with six non-attainment cities and an average of 118 action points per city has the longest list. Karnataka with four cities and an average of 29 action points per city has the shortest list. Transport and road dust together cover 50 per cent of action points, followed by interventions for the industries. Domestic cooking and heating is mentioned as a source only in 42 plans for a total of 2 per cent of the action points.

• NCAP recommendations: Key recommendations include -

1. Mandate regular updates for emission and pollution loads. This will automatically help address the information gaps to support planning, tracking progress, and evaluating impacts of interventions.
2. Move from city-centric to airshed-centric air quality management. This approach requires an inter-state coordination mechanism, which can be facilitated by setting up regional airshed management authorities that enjoy cross-state jurisdiction.
3. Grand greater fiscal autonomy for Urban Local Bodies to maintain the infrastructure necessary for sustaining air quality benefits.
4. Responsible agencies should identify key indicators that could be tracked to monitor the impact of the interventions.
5. Delineate responsibilities -- planning, implementing, enforcing, monitoring -- for each recommended measure across participating agencies and avoid overlaps.

• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain the governance problems that Indian states face while tackling an inter-state problem like air pollution. (2) What is the link between longevity and air pollution? Explain. (3) Explain the key idea behind the NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) of India.

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