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Why in News?
The World Bank report A Breath of Change highlights that nearly one billion people in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) are exposed to the most polluted air globally, calling for urgent transboundary cooperation.
About A Breath of Change
- A strategic solutions document, not merely a diagnostic study.
- Covers 13 jurisdictions across 5 countries:
- India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan
- Treats the IGP-HF as a single airshed, where pollution crosses political boundaries.
- Uses the “4Is framework”:
- Information
- Incentives
- Institutions
- Infrastructure
Key Data & Trends
Health & Economic Impact
- ~1 million premature deaths annually in the region due to air pollution.
- Economic loss: ~10% of regional GDP every year.
- Life expectancy loss: Over 3 years due to PM₂.₅ exposure.
- Children at risk:
- 81% of public-school students exposed to hazardous PM₂.₅ (>35 µg/m³).
Pollution Severity
- IGP-HF has highest PM₂.₅ levels globally:
- 8–20× higher than WHO guidelines.
- Over 50% of PM₂.₅ in many areas comes from outside local jurisdictions.
- Nepal’s Terai: ~68% pollution is transboundary.
Why Pollution is Transboundary in IGP-HF
Geography & Topography
- Himalayan barrier traps pollutants.
- Winter temperature inversions worsen smog.
- Delhi acts as a pollution sink due to inflow from Punjab–Haryana.
Wind Patterns
- North-westerly winter winds transport pollution across borders.
- Pollution from Pakistan’s Punjab can contribute up to 30% of PM₂.₅ in Indian Punjab.
Secondary Particle Formation
- Long-range transport of precursor gases:
- SO₂, NOx, ammonia
- These react in the atmosphere to form secondary PM₂.₅ far from the source.
Agricultural Residue Burning
- Seasonal crop burning in India & Pakistan creates regional haze episodes.
- Smoke plumes blanket the entire airshed during post-harvest months.
Industrial Clusters
- High-stack industries (thermal power plants, brick kilns).
- MSME clusters in Kanpur, Dhaka, etc., cause both local and cross-boundary exposure.
Existing Regional & National Initiatives
- Kathmandu Roadmap (2022):
- Science-policy dialogue & shared air-quality vision.
- Thimphu Outcome (2024):
- Endorsed “35 by 35” target (PM₂.₅ ≤ 35 µg/m³ by 2035).
- Malé Declaration:
- Non-binding platform for regional air monitoring.
- India’s NCAP:
- PM₁₀ reduction focus in 130+ cities.
- Market Innovation:
- Gujarat’s PM Emissions Trading System (Surat).
Key Challenges Identified
Institutional
- Fragmented mandates across ministries.
- Weak Centre–State–local coordination.
Financial
- Lack of long-term regional financing.
- Donor-dependent platforms lose momentum.
Enforcement
- Understaffed pollution control boards.
- Limited capacity for penalties & compliance.
Data Gaps
- Monitoring skewed towards cities.
- Rural pollution largely invisible.
Economic Barriers
- High upfront costs for:
- Clean farm equipment
- Industrial retrofitting
- Vehicle upgrades
World Bank’s Recommended Solutions: The 4Is Framework
Information
- Expand real-time monitoring.
- Use satellite data & GeoAI to identify hotspots (brick kilns, fires).
Incentives
- Reform fuel & fertiliser subsidies.
- Redirect support to:
- EVs
- Clean cooking
- Crop-residue solutions (Happy Seeder).
Institutions
- Enact Clean Air Acts with clear accountability.
- Create a permanent regional secretariat for the IGP-HF airshed.
Infrastructure
- Regional power grids
- EV charging corridors
- Common industrial boilers for MSMEs
Market Instruments
- Scale up Emissions Trading Systems (ETS).
- Pollution taxes (e.g., Nepal’s Green Tax).
