SYLLABUS

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context: Recently, the Lancet Countdown 2025 report by The Lancet highlights rising health, economic and environmental risks in India due to fossil fuel-driven pollution and climate change.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Key sources of Pollution: In India emissions from fossil fuel usage is the major source of pollution.
  o In certain sectors like transport, 96 percent of all energy needs came from burning of fossil fuels.
  o Increased instances of wildfires too contribute in pollution.
• Mortality:
  o India witnessed 1.72 million deaths in 2022linked to air pollution caused by fossil fuel use, a 38% increase from 2010.
• Economic Losses:"
  o Premature mortality due to outdoor air pollution cost India $339.4 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of its GDP.
  o Extreme heat led to the loss of 247 billion productive labour hours, costing Indian economy $194 billion, with the agriculture and construction sectors bearing the brunt.
• Regional Inequality: Household air pollution, largely from solid biofuels, caused 113 deaths per 100,000, with rural areas suffering more (125 per 100,000) than urban areas (99 per 100,000).
• Loss of Green Cover: India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023 and 1.43 lakh hectares in 2023 alone.
• Climate Change induced Heatwaves: India recorded 19.8 heatwave days in 2024 and 6.6 of these days were directly attributed to climate change.
• 35% of the India’s land experienced at least one month of extreme drought annually from 2020-2024, a 138% increase since the 1950s.Rise in Diseases:
• Dengue transmission viaAedes albopictus mosquitoes potentially increased as the basic reproduction rate crossed the epidemic threshold.
• The coastal area suitable for Vibrio transmission rose 46% compared to the 1982-2010 baseline.

Steps taken by India to reduce air pollution

• National Clean Air Programme: NCAP has been launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019 to improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders.
  o NCAP envisages reduction by 20-30% in PM concentration over baseline in year 2017 by 2024. Target has been revised to achieve reduction in PM10 level up to 40% or achievement of national standards (60 µg/m3) by 2025-26.
• City-Specific Clean Air Action Plans prepared and implemented focusing on major pollution sources such as vehicles, industries, road dust, waste burning, construction activities, and domestic fuel.
• BS-VI emission norms notified to reduce vehicular emissions, leapfrogging directly from BS-IV.
• Environmental Protection Charge (EPC) of 1% imposed on diesel vehicles above 2000 cc in Delhi-NCR as per Supreme Court order.
• Performance-based grants provided to urban local bodies through Central Sector Scheme ‘Control of Pollution’ and 15th Finance Commission (XVFC) air quality grants.

Source: 
The Print
The Hindu
Lancet count Down