Pollution, especially air pollution, has over the years heightened to become a global issue without boundaries. Little wonder that it is now receiving maximum concern from both environment lovers and policymakers. Among the recent revelations is the 2024 World Air Quality Report, exposing air pollution in alarming proportions among various cities. New Delhi, the capital city of India, remains the dirtiest capital in the world. It goes further to show that still, many Indian cities suffer from very dangerous levels of pollution, with an increased risk to public health.

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About the World Air Quality Report

The 2024 World Air Quality Report is an extensive piece of research written by IQAir, an air quality technology group with a worldwide presence. Based on data sourced from over 40,000 air quality measuring stations across 138 countries, territories, and regions, the report identifies top cities and countries with the greatest air pollution using PM2.5, an unsafe form of particulate matter that has various health impacts.

The PM2.5 levels in the study are beyond the safe threshold set by the World Health Organization. The PM2.5 particles are extremely minute, measuring smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, and can penetrate the body's system through inhalation to lead to respiratory issues and other health problems.

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Key Findings of the World Air Quality Report 2024

The 2024 World Report on Air Quality contains sound evidence indicating that problems concerning air pollution in multiple countries, more so in Indian, African, and Asian cities, have not been rectified. Let’s take a look at some of the key findings from the report:

• New Delhi: World’s Most Polluted Capital City New Delhi continues to top the list as the world’s most polluted capital city. The city registered an average annual PM2.5 of 91.6 µg/m³, which is well beyond the WHO-prescribed annual limit of 5 µg/m³. Pollution in Delhi outstrips the safety limits put in place by 18 times. Although this capital city has held this record for a myriad of years, it briefly lost hold in the year 2022 when N'Djamena (Chad) outranked it. 
• India's Pollution Emergency: India is the fifth most polluted country in the world with a mean of 50.6 µg/m³ PM2.5, more than ten times the WHO recommended guideline. India continues to have a serious air quality problem, and 13 out of 20 most polluted cities in the world are found in India, even with some improvement in pollution decrease.
• Other Most Polluted Capitals: Besides Delhi, some other capitals that are highly polluted are N'Djamena (Chad), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Islamabad (Pakistan). All these cities have PM2.5 concentration much higher than the WHO's safe threshold. Indeed, N'Djamena had a PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³, only marginally higher than that of Delhi.
• PM2.5 Concentration in South Asia and Africa: The report points out that South Asia and Africa have the highest density of PM2.5 concentration. South Asian and African countries are plagued by major air pollution issues, with numerous cities reporting extremely high levels of particulate matter. This is particularly worrying because air pollution generates health issues that lower life expectancy and lead to a variety of chronic diseases.
• Global Pollution Data: The report further states that 126 of 138 countries and territories had violated the WHO's guideline for PM2.5 concentrations. Just seven countries — Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland — met the WHO's standards. This indicates the worldwide nature of the problem of air pollution.
• Reduction in PM2.5 in Some Places: While it is alarming how high the level of pollution in most cities has reached, it is also observable that some areas have improved. For instance, India experienced a 7% reduction in its PM2.5 levels during 2024, from 54.4 µg/m³ in 2023 down to 50.6 µg/m³ in 2024. Even so, it is not a reduction enough to make the overall pollution level of most Indian cities safe.

Top 10 Most Polluted Capital Cities in 2024

The next table indicates the Top 10 dirtiest capital cities in the world based on the 2024 World Air Quality Report. These cities contain the highest levels of PM2.5 concentration:

The above table indicates the levels of PM2.5 in the 10 most polluted capitals of 2024. From the table, the mean PM2.5 level in N'Djamena (Chad) and New Delhi (India) is very high, both of which are well over 90 µg/m³, i.e., 18 times beyond the safe level prescribed by the WHO. This points toward the intensity of air pollution in these areas.

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Causes of Air Pollution in India

Air pollution in India is primarily due to human activities. A few of the most significant sources of pollution are:

• The increasing number of vehicles on the roads in cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai is a major contributor to air pollution. Car exhaust and other emissions from vehicles release toxic gases into the atmosphere.
• Factories and power stations are large polluters in industrial regions. These industries emit dangerous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide into the environment.
• Farming Practices in India, crop residue burning (particularly in Punjab and Haryana states) is a primary cause of air pollution, especially during harvest times. The smoke emitted by these fires releases high amounts of particulate matter into the atmosphere.
• Urban construction activities tend to release dust and particulate matter into the atmosphere. This is a factor that contributes to elevated PM2.5 levels in cities such as New Delhi.
• In rural settings, cooking using solid fuels such as wood, coal, and biomass releases toxic pollutants into the air, leading to indoor and outdoor air pollution.

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Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution causes ill effects to the health of a human being and to the environment and the economy: 

• Health Effects: The most severely affected are health conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, and heart disease with long exposure to air pollution. Studies indicate that air pollution contributes significantly to reductions in life expectancy.
• Environmental Effects: The ecosystems damaged by air pollution and agricultural productivity are reduced due to air pollution. Greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere also add to global warming.
• Economic Losses: Air pollution does pose an economic threat. Pollution-related health care costs and lost productivity due to illness add up to a significant economic fracture.

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Government Initiatives to Curb Air Pollution in India

The Indian government has instituted various policies aimed at mitigating air pollution, including:

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

This plan puts forth action such as the restriction of construction, restriction of vehicles, and the closure of schools in cases of severely poor air quality.

National Clean Air Program (NCAP)

The objective of this program is to reduce the PM2.5 levels in cities by 20 to 30 percent by 2024. The program also includes modules on improved air quality monitoring and enhancement of enforcement of air pollution control legislation.

Promotion of Electric Vehicles

The FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme encourages electric vehicles, as environment-friendly and energy-efficient compared to conventional vehicles.

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Way Forward

To enhance air quality, following steps are essential:

• More stringent laws on vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
• Promotion of clean energy, like solar and wind, in order to diminish the dependence on polluting fossil fuels.
• Greater public awareness to make people travel by public transport and minimize wastage.

Most cities in the world have an increased level of pollution that reaches to excessive heights. The issue becomes real with the report on the world air quality for the year 2024, particularly in India. There are measures being considered to reduce pollution, but minimizing pollution for the protection of public health and the environment requires much greater effort.

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UPSC Practice Questions

Discuss the major policy interventions and initiatives taken by the Indian government to improve air quality, particularly focusing on the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Evaluate the successes and challenges faced in the implementation of these measures. Suggest ways to enhance the effectiveness of air quality management in India. (250 words)