BENGALURU – India’s flagship air pollution action plan, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), has mostly failed to deliver, according to research presented at the eighth India Clean Air Summit. Officials, scientists, and other experts highlighted the 2019 program’s severe shortcomings and red-flagged critical gaps. An “NCAP 2.0′ has been widely expected, but the central […] Continue reading ->
As Delhi’s officials finally take tough action on major pollution sources, the demand for a similar approach is rising in other states – as seen at the 8th Indian Clean Air Summit held this week in Bangalore. BANGALORE, INDIA – Two decades ago, authorities in Delhi switched public and heavy duty transport from largely diesel […] Continue reading ->
PRETORIA, South Africa – Multilateral agencies and funders urged African nations at last week’s Africa Clean Air Forum to speak the language of finance to attract investment in improving the continent’s air quality. Air pollution is the second leading risk for death in Africa after malnutrition. Four African countries feature in the top 10 most polluted […] Continue reading ->
PRETORIA, South Africa – Participants from 47 African nations are meeting at the Africa Clean Air Forum this week as part of a continental drive to address the air pollution health crisis. The forum, convened by the Africa Clean Air Network (AfriCAN), is in its fourth year, and this is the first time it is being […] Continue reading ->
After years of stonewalling, the city is finally acknowledging the public health risks of air pollution – launching a major initiative to clean up emissions from the capital’s 10 million vehicles, along with stricter curbs on waste, construction and traffic during winter-time pollution peaks. The most radical measures include: banning new fossil fuel–powered 2 & […] Continue reading ->
Home to 1 in 4 people globally, the region should brace for “multi-hazards” and poor air quality apart from heat and water stress, according to a new report. The authors called on countries in the fractious neighbourhood to cooperate on data and form common solutions. The monsoon season this year is likely to bring more […] Continue reading ->
Delhi’s new action plan 2026 promises to double the bus fleet, deploy more smog guns, and impose pollution-linked curbs on fuel sales. But experts warn of missing enforcement muscle and dodging hard decisions. DELHI – The world’s most polluted capital has a new air quality action plan, but the Delhi state government is yet to […] Continue reading ->
Pakistan had the most polluted air in the world overall in 2025, and Delhi was the most polluted capital for the seventh time in the last eight years of reporting by the Swiss-based IQAir. A town bordering India’s capital is the world’s most polluted place. Despite covering nearly 9,500 cities, pollution data gaps leave millions […] Continue reading ->
BANGKOK – The combination of heat and “super pollutants” is emerging as a critical threat to human health, according to experts at the Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference which ended last Friday in Bangkok. Short-lived super pollutants – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), nitrous oxide and ground-level ozone – contribute to half of global warming […] Continue reading ->
The 12th Better Air Quality conference opened with a call to treat clean air as vital economic infrastructure, highlighting the large benefit-cost return – but financing clean-tech is a challenge in developing nations. BANGKOK – Short-term impacts of bad air quality don’t just cause high economic costs but also lead to children scoring poorly in […] Continue reading ->