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In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, India is 176th out of 180 countries, reflecting serious issues with air quality, emissions, and biodiversity conservation due to its dependence on coal and limited pollution control measures.
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Over 60% of India’s population lives in areas where air pollution levels exceed safe limits. Particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is especially high, leading to severe health impacts, particularly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and shortened life expectancy in some areas.
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Poor air quality in India contributed to significant life expectancy losses, with people in polluted regions potentially losing up to 5 years of their lives. Air pollution has become a leading cause of premature death in the country.
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Major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, rank among the world’s most polluted cities. Delhi, for instance, often records air quality indexes in the hazardous range, in winter months when crop stubble burning exacerbates pollution.
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Key contributors to air pollution include vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, and agricultural practices like stubble burning.
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Programs like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aim to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20-30% by 2025. Although awareness and monitoring have improved, stricter enforcement and cross-sector collaboration are needed to achieve meaningful reductions.
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India is investing in renewable energy, targeting net-zero emissions by 2070. This ambitious goal is to reduce reliance on coal and shift towards solar, wind, and hydro energy sources to combat pollution in the long term.
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Meeting India’s climate and pollution reduction targets would require around $160 billion in annual investment. This includes funding for renewable energy, pollution controls, and sustainable agricultural practices, which are vital for long-term environmental health.
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India generates a substantial amount of electronic waste, with rapid e-commerce growth adding to pollution through increased packaging waste and urban congestion. This e-waste contributes to air, water, and soil pollution, particularly when improperly disposed.
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Organizations and environmental advocates are pushing for public health-based mitigation strategies and better environmental education to encourage pollution reduction at community levels.
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