The clean air plan will help millions live healthier lives

Effective implementation of the programme will help make India’s economy more competitive in the long run

As one of the world’s largest economies, India’s environmental leadership is crucial, and the country can help spur global progress by taking on an important challenge that is closely linked to both public health and the planet’s health: air pollution.

India’s rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have brought many benefits to people’s lives, but they have also brought to the forefront public health concerns about air pollution in urban and industrial towns.

The Indian government has acknowledged the importance of the issue by launching the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), as a comprehensive national-level programme. This is a landmark effort of the government to improve air quality, quality of life, health, and economic well being in the country. It’s ambitious, but it is achievable — and these measures that will help India fulfil its commitment will also modernise the economy and address climate change.

For instance, the Indian government launched a major effort to provide all citizens with access to clean fuels, and, under the Ujjwala Scheme, provided free cooking gas connections to more than 60 million households, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100% of households. This effort will not only improve people’s lives, but also bring enormous health benefits, because cooking with wood and other biomass is the single largest cause of air pollution in India.

India is also working to reduce emissions from cars and trucks and has proposed a transition to an electric vehicle fleet, both of which set an example for other countries.

Now, the country is poised to tap another powerful driver of both economic modernisation and cleaner air: its cities. While cities are the centre of the pollution problem — both in India and around the world — they can also be a big part of the solution.

New York City is one example among many. The city used to have a reputation for having terrible air quality. Today, New York’s air is cleaner than it has been in more than 50 years. That progress was made possible through efforts like making safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists; helping building owners switch to cleaner fuel; new guidelines to increase energy efficiency; and planting one million new trees.

Cities around the world are taking similar steps, and to assist Indian cities, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change is collaborating with some of the institutional organisations like Bloomberg Philanthropies, World Bank, UNDP etc on a new effort. Over the next two years, that will help a group of non-attainment Indian cities better understand air pollution-related aspects with scientific approaches, identify its sources, and develop action plans. Effective implementation of NCAP will help millions of Indians live healthier lives. And these measures will help make India’s economy more competitive. Ultimately, the same steps that address air pollution and protect the planet also make communities healthier and wealthier — and that is a powerful message that India can deliver to the rest of the world.