State of Global Air Report: Unhealthy Air for All in India

Co-authored with Polash Mukerjee and Jessica Korsh

The Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the worst air quality in four years this Diwali. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) just reached a season high in Delhi, after five consecutive days with recorded AQIs in or above “severe” (401 or greater). Within Delhi, several localities have recorded AQIs near the 500 mark for deadly fine particles – over eight times the safe Indian limit. Just a few months ago during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown, air pollution in northern India dropped to a 20-year low. Yet, 100% of the population in India is above the WHO guideline. Outdoor (ambient) PM2.5 is the largest driver of air pollution’s burden of disease worldwide, according to the newly released 2020 State of Global Air Report.

Air pollution is now the world’s fourth leading risk factor for early death – and worsening especially in India. In light of COVID-19, clean air and blue skies are more urgent than ever for polluted cities in India, as discussed in 2020 State of Global Air Report.

Globally, 4.5 million deaths were linked to outdoor air pollution exposures in 2019, as found in the State of Global Air Report. Considered separately, outdoor (ambient) particle pollution (PM2.5) ranked as the 6th leading risk factor and household air pollution ranked 9th. In 2019, about 980,000 premature deaths were linked to indoor and outdoor air pollution in India – up from 2018 and 2017. Additionally, emerging research shows that exposure to higher air pollution can increase the COVID-19 death rate.

Despite improvements in reducing global average mortality rates from air pollution, the world’s most populous countries, India and China, continue to bear the highest burdens of disease. While the average global air pollution exposures declined slightly over the last decade, disparities exist and there has been little sustained progress in the world’s most polluted regions.

Over 90% of the world’s population lives in areas where PM2.5 levels are above the WHO guideline for healthy air, with 100% of cities in India and particular matter as the leading pollutant. PM2.5 particles are less than a 30th of the diameter of a human hair, and are emitted from vehicles, coal-burning power plants, industrial activities, waste burning, and other sources.