Cleaning the air

Tackling pollution warrants regional cooperation and an airshed approach

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N ANNUAL SURVEY on air pollution has presented, yet again, a bleak picture for India. Delhi retained its dubious spot as the world's most polluted capital in 2024 although India bettered its position from the third to fifth most polluted country, Swiss air quality technology firm IQAir found. Last year's gains are measly, and eradicating pollution remains a Himalayan task. For instance, the country witnessed 7% decline in concentrations of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5; yet 13 of the 20 most polluted cities including the one with the worst air are in India. More than a third (35%) of Indian cities recorded annual PM2.5 levels that were 10 times worse than the recommended safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.