The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&C) recently celebrated the 3rd International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies as ‘Swachh Vayu Diwas (“Swachh Vayu Neel Gagan”). The aim was to heighten awareness and foster actions to enhance air quality under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). This event comes as a part of efforts to tackle the global issue of air pollution under guidelines set by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
NCAP’s Progress and Achievement
According to recent findings, out of the 131 cities selected under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 20 cities have met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This marks an improvement in their air quality from 2017 levels to the present year, 2022. Furthermore, ninety-five of these 131 cities have shown noteworthy advancements in their air quality.
“The Air We Share” – The Annual Theme
This year the theme “The Air We Share” has been chosen to emphasize the necessity for immediate and strategic international and regional cooperation. The focus is on the effective implementation of mitigation policies and actions designed to combat air pollution.
Establishment of the International Day of Clean Air
In its 74th session, the United Nations General Assembly decided to designate an annual International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. This decision was made on 19th December 2019, with encouragement for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to facilitate the day’s observance in conjunction with other relevant stakeholders.
Significance of International Day of Clean Air
The United Nations commemorates this special day by hosting summits with member states. These gatherings involve discussions on data related to the impacts of air pollution and the state of air quality globally, showcasing the collective effort towards mitigating this global issue.
Cities Showing Improvement in Air Quality
Data revealed by the NCAP shows significant improvements in air quality across major cities. Varanasi in particular, has recorded a whopping 53% improvement in its air quality levels from 2017 to 2022. In addition, all metropolitan cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad have shown significant enhancement in their air quality compared to 2017. Other cities such as Noida, Chandigarh, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Guwahati, among others, have also exhibited notable progress.
Cities with Deteriorating Air Quality
Despite these successes, 27 cities have shown a decline in their air quality over the same period. These include Korba, which houses 10 thermal coal power plants. Notably, Madhya Pradesh has been identified as the poorest performer, with six out of seven cities from the state revealing a worsening of air quality. These cities are Bhopal, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Ujjain and Gwalior. Further, cities like Howrah, Durgapur, Aurangabad, Thane, Gaya, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhubaneswar, Patiala and Jammu have also reported a degradation of air quality.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition: A Global Initiative
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a global initiative comprising governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations. The core objective of this coalition is to improve air quality and mitigate climate change through actions targeting short-lived climate pollutants. The initial focus of the coalition has been on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United States, along with UNEP, were among the initiators of this unique partnership.