Air Pollution Costs India Up To 9.5% Of GDP, 2 Million Deaths Linked: New Report Calls For Health-Led Action
NDTV · Shreya Goswami ·
The central finding of the FICCI-EY report, Clean Air, Healthy India, is that air pollution must be treated as a public-health emergency and a development challenge, not merely an environmental problem.
Air pollution in India is no longer a problem that can be addressed through emergency restrictions when winter smog sets in. Its health effects extend beyond cough, wheezing and breathlessness, contributing to cardiovascular disease, stroke and other long-term health risks. A new knowledge paper by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and EY, titled Clean Air, Healthy India, argues that the country's clean-air strategy must be built around public-health outcomes, with year-round action to reduce people's exposure to harmful pollutants.
The report states that more than two million deaths in India were attributable to air pollution in 2023. It also points to gaps in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), including its emphasis on PM10 reduction over the more harmful fine particulate matter, PM2.5. The recommendations come as air quality deteriorates across several northern cities. On November 6, Delhi's air quality was in the very poor category in early-morning readings, while several cities across Uttar Pradesh and Haryana also recorded high pollution levels. The report makes the case for treating clean air as a healthcare priority, not simply an environmental target.
Air Pollution Is A Health Crisis, Not Just An Environmental Problem