AQLI Report 2025: India’s Air Crisis Deepens
Why in the News ?
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report, released by the Energy Policy Institute, University of Chicago, reveals that all Indians breathe air more polluted than WHO standards, with northern plains worst affected, significantly reducing life expectancy nationwide.
Key Findings of AQLI 2025 (India & South Asia):
● All Indians exposed to PM2.5 above WHO limits.
● 46% of Indians live in regions that also breach India’s own PM2.5 limit of 40 µg/m³.
● Northern Plains most affected – about 544.4 million people exposed to severely polluted air.
● Delhi could gain 8.2 years in life expectancy if pollution met WHO standards.
● Even in India’s cleanest regions, life expectancy could improve by ~9.4 months if air quality reached WHO norms.
● Cross-border problem: Emissions from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh collectively pollute the region.
● Bangladesh: Worst affected, with 12x WHO PM2.5 levels, potential life expectancy gain of ~5.5 years, highest in Gazipur (7.1 years).
Global Context & Lessons from China
● Global PM2.5 (2023): Rose 1.5% from 2022, nearly 5x WHO threshold.
● Biggest external threat to life expectancy identified as air pollution.
● China’s Case Study:
○ Despite a 2.8% rise in 2023, pollution fell ~40.8% since 2014 due to strict policies.
○ Measures: Car restrictions in mega cities, curbs on steel & coal industries, ban on new coal plants in key regions, shift to gas/electric heating.
○ Still above WHO norms, but significant policy-driven improvement.