Ten Indian cities were included in the study. It was discovered that even the safest cities have a high disease burden due to “early pollution deaths.”It has been evident for some time now that one of the major causes of sickness is air pollution. Released on June 19 in collaboration with Unicef, the US-based Health Effects Initiative’s report ‘State of Global Air 2024’ provides a detailed account of the disease burden caused by air pollution, stating, among other things, that it is the second leading cause of mortality after hypertension.
However, the federal and state governments do not take their responsibility to provide people with clean air seriously enough. Not enough is done on the ground, despite the loud noises made. India has advanced renewable energy sources quite quickly, and it is admirable that more people are using electric cars instead of filthy ones.Still, a great deal more work needs to be done.
Source: X.com
Firstly, the electricity grid needs to be decarbonized. We cannot completely phase out fossil fuels at once, since India bears a significant portion of the burden of bringing a significant number of people out of poverty. For example, coal accounts for nearly 75% of India’s electricity production. It will require a steady approach to solving the issue. Therefore, it is critical that the Global North support the South in meeting the global commitment to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In line with the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol, the United States and Europe may assist in two ways: first, by reducing their own GHG emissions significantly; second, by donating clean technologies to nations in the Global South without levying exorbitant costs.Delhi stands at the top of the list with an average of 11,964 early deaths each year with PM2.5 readings of 113 micrograms per cubic metre.
Source: Firstpost
However, even supposedly safe cities face danger. Bengaluru, which is ranked fifth in ascending order, has an annual early-death count of 2,102 and an average PM2.5 count of 33. Even though smoggy Delhi is thought to be cleaner than places like Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai, reports of so many premature fatalities from these cities’ air pollution are alarming and demand quick action. Shimla unsettlingly appears on the list of cities with poor air quality, despite hill stations typically being linked to perfect air quality.
The fact that so many premature deaths occur in safe cities ought to concern the authorities. First off, the World Health Organization recommends a PM2.5 concentration of 15, whereas India has a healthy level of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Shimla are all located in the middle of the two. India needs to update its air quality regulations first.
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