A recent analysis conducted by Greenpeace Southeast Asia, an environmental non-governmental organisation, revealed that in 2020, PM 2.5 air pollution was responsible for approximately 54,000 fatalities in Delhi. PM 2.5, finer than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, not only diminishes visibility but also triggers respiratory problems. This particulate matter is also an endocrine disruptor, affecting insulin secretion and sensitivity and potentially leading to diabetes.
High Economic Cost of Air Pollution in Indian Cities
The analysis spotlighted the devastating impact of air pollution on the economies of Indian cities in 2020. It discovered that among the 28 global cities studied, the economic cost of air pollution in Delhi was the highest. Despite a strict COVID-19 lockdown, the capital city recorded an estimated loss of 24,000 lives in the first half of the year. The analysis also highlighted that the levels of air pollutant in Delhi were nearly six times higher than the WHO (World Health Organisation) limit of 10 μg/m3. As a result, Delhi incurred an approximate loss of USD 8.1 billion, equating to 13% of the city’s annual GDP, due to air pollution-related issues.
Other Indian Cities Also Affected
Air pollution in Mumbai attributed to approximately 25,000 avoidable deaths in 2020 due to PM 2.5 and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). The report also identified worrying levels of damage caused by polluted air in other Indian cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Lucknow, resulting in thousands of preventable deaths.
A Glimpse at the Global Scenario
The Greenpeace analysis underlines that PM 2.5 air pollution claimed around 1,60,000 lives in the five most populous cities globally, namely Delhi (India), Mexico City (Mexico), São Paulo (Brazil), Shanghai (China), and Tokyo (Japan) in 2020. Tokyo recorded the highest total financial cost from air pollution, which led to roughly 40,000 avoidable deaths and an economic loss of USD 43 billion.
Measurement Indicators
Greenpeace employed various methods to measure the impact of air pollution. It collected real-time ground-level PM 2.5 measurements from different locations that were integrated into IQAir’s database. Such data was used in scientific risk models along with population and public health data to estimate the health and economic costs of air pollution exposure.
The ‘Willingness-To-Pay’ Approach
The study also used a ‘willingness-to-pay’ strategy to highlight the economic impact of air pollution-related deaths. This approach monetarily represents the negative outcome of a lost life year or living with disabilities.
Dire Consequences of Air Pollution
According to WHO, toxic air is now the largest environmental cause of early death, responsible for one in nine of all fatalities. The World Bank report of 2016 asserts that the lost lives and ailing health caused by air pollution pose an enormous economic burden.
Initiatives to Control Air Pollution in India
Given the dire consequences of air pollution, India has implemented several initiatives to combat this issue. These initiatives include the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas, Bharat Stage (BS) VI norms, a Dashboard for Monitoring Air Quality, National Clean Air Programme, National Air Quality Index (AQI), National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Breathe, and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). These initiatives aim to improve air quality, regulate emission standards, provide real-time air pollution data, and provide clean cooking fuel to poor households.
