Every winter, New Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) becomes a central talking point amongst mainstream media, policymakers, and on social media. However, the issue of toxic air goes beyond the administrative boundaries of Delhi-NCR and affects millions of people – especially those residing in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP).

India has dropped from fifth to eighth place in terms of the world’s most polluted countries in 2022. According to this World Air Quality Report 2022 by the IQAir, out of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 39 are in India.

This report is part of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s series Air & Environment within the national environmental monitoring programme. The report’s authors include stakeholders active within the national air quality monitoring and researchers and experts at universities, research institutes and public agencies.

This report is a continuation of ‘Tracing the Hazy Air: Progress Report on National Clean Air Programme’ released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in January 2022.

Open Air Quality Data: The Global Landscape is the only global assessment of whether and how national governments are producing and sharing air quality data with the public.

Air pollution is the largest environmental risk factor for human health, causing ill health and millions of premature deaths each year worldwide. However, the negative impacts of air pollution are unequal—being far greater on low and middle-income countries and particularly skewed towards vulnerable populations.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has formulated a Comprehensive Policy to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, in a crucial step towards overall amelioration of the air quality of the National Capital Region (NCR) through differentiated geographical approach and timelines of action.

With India’s infamous air pollution levels gaining traction from the global press and local activists, the Centre, in January 2019, launched the country’s first National Clean Air Programme with an intent to improve the country’s air quality on a war footing.

The pace and intensity of the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread is potentially influenced by many factors, including air pollution. Studies have suggested that air pollution increases the incidence and the severity of the disease. However, the current data are too limited to be certain.

This global report provides a review of policy actions of Member States per the mandate provided by UNEA Resolution 3/8 on Preventing and reducing air pollution to improve air quality globally.