Air pollution levels up by 8%: U.N. report
Concerns:
- The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting at Nairobi noted that air pollution has increased by 8 per cent and progress and policies on air quality fall short of what is needed to save millions of lives each year.
- At least 600,000 deaths being caused annually in India by fine particulate matter pollution in the air - data released by the World Health Organisation
- So many deaths could be attributed to particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in size
- Residents in many urban areas are forced to breathe unhealthy levels of particulates, and the smallest of these - PM10 and less - can penetrate and get lodged deep in the lungs
- A recent study by Yale and Columbia University ranked India 126th out of 132 countries surveyed on environmental performance and worst air pollution; far below all BRICS nations
WHO Global Burden of Disease study has also been working to estimate pollution-linked health impacts, such as stroke and ischaemic heart disease, acute lower respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Causes:
Data on fine particulates in India show that in several locations the pollutants come from burning of biomass, such as coal, fuel wood, farm litter and cow dung cakes. In highly built-up areas, construction debris, road dust and vehicular exhaust add to the problem.
SO2 and NO2:
- Coal-powered thermal power plants are the leading sources of SO2 and NO2 in the environment.
- Growing number of cars:
- Low standards for vehicle emission
- Diesel vehicles are responsible for 56% of all PM emissions and 70% of all Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions
- Content of sulphur in fuel makes it dirtier and lowers the efficiency of catalytic convertors, which control emissions in automobiles.
Indoor Air Pollution:
- As per Census 2011, 87% of rural households and 26% of urban households depend on biomass for cooking.
- Burning of biomass is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and is responsible for respiratory and pulmonary health issues in approximately 400 million Indians.
- Usage of Kerosene:
- The proportion of rural households using kerosene as a primary source of energy for lighting is almost 30%.
- Kerosene lanterns used in rural areas are a primary source of emission of black carbon soot and cause significant health impact, particularly in the case of women and children.
Impacts
Cost of Air pollution- 3% of the GDP: A World Bank report highlighted that the annual cost of air pollution, specifically pollution from particulate matter (burning of fossil fuels): 3% of the GDP of the country:
- Outdoor air pollution accounting 1.7% and
- Indoor air pollution for 1.3%
The report observed that a 30% reduction in particulate emissions by 2030 would save India $105 billion in health-related costs and a 10% reduction would save $24 billion.
Leading cause of Death:
The Global Burden of Disease Report has ranked outdoor air pollution as the fifth leading cause of death in India and indoor air pollution as the third leading cause.
Agricultural productivity:
A recent research study "Recent climate and air pollution impacts on Indian agriculture" suggested that Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) were having an adverse impact of agricultural productivity of India.
Initiatives & Policy Measures:
Steps to curb vehicular emission
- Emission norms and fuel regulation standards: BS - IV norms are applicable in 34 cities whereas BS -III norms are applicable in the rest of the country. Adaptation of Euro VI norms to Bharat Stage VI.
- Saumitra Chaudhari Committee:Government should introduce the Bharat Stage -V norms across the country by 2020.
- Promotion of cleaner technologies and alternate sources of energy to run vehicles:
- National Mission for Electricity Mobility (NMEM):To enhance penetration of efficient and environmentally friendly hybrid and electric vehicles;
- GoI: 1,000 crores for the Plan in 2015 to decrease CO2 emissions by 1.2- 1.5% in 2020
- Promotion of usage of Biofuels: To substitute petrol and diesel in automobiles
- target: 20% blending of bio-fuels such as bio-diesel and bio-ethanol by 2017 is proposed;
- Ethanol run bus launched in Nagpur under 'Green Bus' Project
- Encouraging greater use of public transport: To prioritize the use of public transport running on cleaner fuel and technology and developing a people-centric sustainable multi-modal urban transport network, taking into consideration the unique characteristics in cities.
Reducing the dependence on biomass burning
- National Biomass Cookstoves Programme: Promote the use of improved cookstoves resulting in:
- Reduced emissions,
- Reduced fuel consumption and
- Cleaner cooking energy solutions
- Renewable Energy:
- Achieve 175,000 MW of green energy by 2022 including
- 1 lakh MW of solar power,
- 60,000 MW of wind energy,
- 10,000 MW of biomass and
- 5000 MW of small hydro projects
- Solar Power:
- An enabling policy framework for manufacturing solar components and setting up power plants should be created
- Off-grid applications should be promoted and steps be taken to bring tariff to grid parity level
Currently,
- Government has revised the target to 100 GW by 2022.
- Gandhinagar Solar Photovoltaic Rooftop Programme
From carbon subsidization to carbon taxation:
- Cess on coal has been doubled which will boost renewable energy financing
- Cess is collected as National Clean Energy Fund and is disbursed for renewable energy-based initiatives and power projects.
National 'Air Quality Index': "One Color, One Number and One Description".
Measurement index consisting of 8 parameters, which would disseminate information in a simple and effective manner (Real time; 8 pollutants)
Conclusion:
Comprehensive measurement of PM2.5 is not yet being done and the linkages between pollution, disease and deaths need further study.
A neglected aspect of urban air pollution control is the virtual discarding of the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, notified to sustainably manage debris that is dumped in the cities, creating severe particulate pollution. The Environment Ministry has highlighted the role that debris can play as a resource.
Municipal and government contracts are, under the rules, required to utilise up to 20 per cent materials made from construction and demolition waste, and local authorities must place containers to hold debris. This must be implemented without delay.
Providing cleaner fuels and scientifically designed cook stoves to those who have no option but to burn biomass, would have a big impact on reducing particulate matter in the northern and eastern States, which are the worst-hit during winter, when biomass is also used for heating.
Greening the cities could be made a mission, involving civil society, with a focus on landscaping open spaces and paving all public areas to reduce dust. These measures can result in lower PM10 and PM2.5 levels.