Air Pollution Management: India vs China

Exam-Focused Notes on Air Pollution Management: China vs. India

Key Statistics

• Beijing PM2.5 Reduction: Over 50% drop from average levels of 102 µg/m³ in 2013 to 31 µg/m³ in 2024.
• Delhi Pollution Levels: Continues to rank among the most polluted cities globally, with significant air quality issues.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• India's Environmental Laws:
  • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  • Environment Protection Act, 1986
  • Related laws impacting air quality: Factories Act, 1948; Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
• China's Regulatory Framework: Enforced rigorous environmental reforms through top-down policies.

Government Initiatives and Schemes

• China's Strategies:

  • Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan: Comprehensive legislative actions targeting pollution.
  • Blue Sky Protection Campaign: Focused on coal reduction, industry relocation, and emissions standards.

• India's Schemes:

  • National Clean Air Programme: Aimed at comprehensive air quality improvement.
  • Graded Response Action Plan: Implements pollution control measures during high pollution episodes.
  • Construction Bans and Dust-Control Regulations: Reactively enforced.
  • Delhi’s Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025: Aimed at curbing air pollution specifically in Delhi.

Governance and Enforcement

• China:

  • Environmental Vertical Reform: Established clear hierarchies for local governments' environmental responsibilities, enabling effective enforcement.
  • Inter-Provincial Coordination: The Tianjin-Hebei ‘airshed’ strategy effectively controlled transboundary pollution.

• India:

  • Fragmented governance structure involving Union, Delhi government, and multiple municipal bodies leads to slow decision-making and weak enforcement.
  • Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM): Lacks authority in coordinating interstate pollution control measures like stubble burning.

Economic Considerations

• Investments: China has made substantial investments in clean energy and electric mobility, contributing to air quality improvement.
• India's Challenges: Efforts have been hindered by inadequate infrastructure and poor service delivery, particularly in industrial relocation schemes.

Recommendations for India

1. Shift in Governance: Transition from reactive measures to long-term, mission-oriented strategies treating air pollution as a national public health emergency.
2. Clean Energy Transition: Accelerate the move away from coal and adopt energy-efficient standards across sectors.
3. Transport Reforms: Implement BS-VI norms effectively, enhance public transport, and establish a credible Pollution Under Control (PUC) system.
4. Functional Industrial Policy: Develop robust industrial zones with complete utilities and continual emissions monitoring.
5. Regional Governance: Establish a cooperative airshed model similar to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei agreement to govern air pollution as a regional issue.

Conclusion

India can learn from China's governance and policy frameworks without compromising its political system. By adopting effective strategies, enforcing robust regulations, and fostering regional cooperation, it can aspire towards substantial improvements in air quality.