India and air pollution

• Air pollution reduced the average life expectancy of 660 million Indians by more than three years.
• 99% of India‘s population (1.2 billion) breathe polluted air above safe levels.
• Between 2008 and 2010, lung cancer rates in Delhi for men increased from 14 to 15.5 per 100 thousand, and for women 4.2 to 4.6 per 100 thousand.
• While smoking is the largest cause of lung cancer, 1/5 cases occur among non-smokers; that is a 20% increase in the past 10 years.
• Diseases like asthma and respiratory symptoms (e.g. breathlessness) are 1.7x higher in Delhi than in rural areas.
• Indoor air pollution


  Biomass fuels (i.e. animal dung) for heating

  Paraffin for cooking and lighting

  Occurs in rural areas due to lack of electricity

  Responsible for 1 million premature deaths a year
• Outdoor pollution


  Nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone from motor vehicles, coal-burning power stations and factories.
• Particulate pollution


  Tiny air-born particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres.

  Penetrate deep into people’s lungs.

  Cause respiratory problems (e.g. bronchitis), lung and heart disease, and cancer.
• Solutions


  14 Indian cities are currently building rapid-transit metro systems.

  In Bihar state, chimneys of brick-kilns have been retro-fitted to reduce smoke emissions.

  Subsidies for petrol and diesel will be scrapped.

  Restrictions to be placed on burning stubble in fields.
• International agreements.

  In 2012, 37 countries and the EU states agreed targets to cut GHG emissions by 18% of 1990 levels by 2020.

  EU has the world‘s largest carbon cap-and-trade scheme and each EU state has targets for expanding renewable energy To comply with European Climate Change Programme.