Air quality and climate policy integration in India

Air Quality and Climate Policy Integration in India

Introduction

Air pollution has emerged as one of India's gravest social and environmental problems in recent years. Simultaneously, the country is experiencing signs of a warming climate, with potentially devastating long-term effects. Energy-related fuel combustion is central to both crises, being a primary source of major air pollutants (NOX, SO2, and PM2.5) and the largest contributor to India's CO2 emissions.

Key Findings

• Health Impact: In 2019, India experienced an estimated 1.2 million air pollution-related premature deaths.
• Economic Growth and Emissions: India's growing economy is driving CO2 emissions, which increased by over 55% in the last decade and are projected to rise by 50% by 2040.
• Co-Benefits: Integrating air quality and climate policies can deliver significant co-benefits, as energy-related pollutants and CO2 emissions often arise from the same sources.

Co-Benefit Potential

The report provides quantitative analysis demonstrating how flagship energy policies can contribute to both air pollution reduction and climate change mitigation simultaneously. Four key sectors are assessed:

1. Captive Power Plants
2. Industrial Energy Efficiency
3. Road Transport Electrification
4. Clean Cooking

Detailed Assessments

1. Captive Power Plants

   • Overview: India's captive segment within the national power sector.
   • Challenges: Impacts on air quality and climate.
   • Opportunities: Ambitious and necessary transition for the power sector.

2. Road Transport Electrification

   • Profile: Must be accompanied by reducing environmental impacts of the power sector.
   • Achievements: Current progress in road transport electrification.
   • Impacts: Reductions in air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.
   • Maximizing Benefits: Strategies to maximize co-benefits of transport electrification.

3. Clean Cooking

   • Health Benefits: Improving population health.
   • Policy Landscape: Current and future trends.
   • Impacts: Reductions in air pollution and climate impacts.
   • Access Benefits: Maximizing the benefits of clean cooking access.

4. Industrial Energy Efficiency

   • Growth: Continued exponential growth in industrial activities.
   • Key Scheme: The Pollution Prevention and Abatement (PAT) scheme for reducing industrial energy intensity.

Conclusion

Well-designed, coherent policy packages can deliver significant co-benefits if properly implemented. These policies will provide a more impactful response, delivering durable benefits to national health and environmental challenges while offering substantial potential for India's contribution to the global fight against climate change.