Talk solution
Yet, air pollution related deaths and illnesses are avoidable and can be prevented with action. There is enormous expectation around the dedicated funding from the 15th Finance Commission for clean air action in million plus cities. Since 2022 this funding has become performance linked. Cities have to show verifiable improvement in air quality to access this fund otherwise they lose it.

This performance evaluation has to get stronger to ensure that more harmful fraction of pollution coming from combustion sources – vehicles, industry, burning of waste - are controlled. Action has to spread beyond dust control measures like road sweeping and road building, to reduce the toxic risk.

The NCAP target of 40 per cent reduction in particulate pollution by 2026 needs much quicker and scalable transition in clean energy systems in all sectors including energy systems, building energy, and household energy; mobility transition to reduce dependence on personal vehicles and scale up electrification of vehicles, usage of public transport, walking, cycling and low emissions zones; and massive expansion of circular economy to close the loop on municipal and construction waste. Only this can make a difference if achieved with scale and speed.