Severity of Air Pollution in India

• India has 83 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities.
• Air pollution in India causes 2.1 million deaths annually, second only to China.
• Over 99% of Indians breathe air below WHO standards.

Contribution of Road Transport to CO2 Emissions

• Road transport accounts for 12% of India’s CO2 emissions.
• Heavy vehicles are the primary contributors to Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions.
• PM2.5 can penetrate deep into lungs, causing severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
• NOx contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, worsening air quality.

MEASURES TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Norms

• BEE’s CAFE III and CAFE IV norms aim to reduce vehicle emissions with stringent CO2 targets.
• Transition to World Light Duty Vehicle Testing Procedure (WLTP) by 2027 will improve emission measurements.
• Heavy vehicles are currently excluded from CAFE norms, limiting their impact on reducing emissions.

Vehicle Scrappage Policy

• Introduced in 2022 to phase out old, polluting vehicles.
• Mandates fitness and emissions tests for vehicles older than 15-20 years.
• Policy struggles in Karnataka due to limited scrapyards and voluntary participation.
• Maharashtra offers incentives but has seen limited impact on air pollution.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ACTION

• Strengthen and enforce existing policies, such as vehicle emissions testing and industrial emission controls.
• Prioritize mass transit as the most sustainable solution to combat air pollution.
• Ensure that guidelines and policies are effectively implemented across states.