India Achieves Notable 19.3% Drop in Air Pollution in 2022

In 2022, India saw a 19.3% decrease in particulate pollution, the second-highest drop globally after Bangladesh. This improvement, attributed to favorable weather conditions and fewer thermal inversions, has added a year to life expectancy for every citizen. Despite improvements, significant public health risks remain due to ongoing high pollution levels.

India recorded a significant reduction in particulate pollution in 2022, registering a 19.3% decrease compared to the previous year. This improvement ranks as the second-highest globally, following Bangladesh, and has added an estimated year to the life expectancy of Indian citizens, according to a new report.

The 'Air Quality Life Index 2024,' an annual report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), highlights that Indians could lose 3.6 years of life expectancy if the country does not meet the World Health Organisation's annual PM2.5 standards. Favorable meteorological conditions and fewer thermal inversions primarily contributed to the observed decline in pollution.

Despite these gains, significant health risks persist, particularly in the northern plains, where pollution levels remain among the highest in the country. If current reduction trends continue, life expectancy in these regions could increase by an additional 1.2 years. The EPIC report also emphasized the need for stricter national air quality standards aligned with global guidelines to protect public health more effectively.

(With inputs from agencies.)