Editorial Feature

How India is Tackling Plastic Pollution and Emissions

Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) published data on cities around the world that were found to have the highest concentration of small particulate measurements. Of the 12 cities with the highest levels of pollution in the world, 11 cities are in India. As data continues to emerge on this country’s devastating pollution problem, India has adopted a Whole-of-Government approach to reduce their role in human and environmental health problems relating to pollution.

Overview of Pollution in India

The health effects of both acute and chronic exposure to air pollution include a significantly greater risk for exposed individuals to acquire heart disease, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, lung cancer, acute respiratory infections and worsened asthma. In 2017 alone, India’s abhorrent air quality was found to be responsible for 1.2 million deaths throughout the nation. Life expectancy for Indian citizens has been reduced by 5.3 years as a result of air pollution. Much of India’s air pollution is attributed to the continuous release of harmful emissions by industries and cars, as well as by the burning of crop residue, wood and charcoal.

In terms of India’s role in perpetuating plastic pollution, it is estimated that India consumes 16.5 million tons of plastic each year. Of this amount, 43% of the plastic is used for single-use packaging material that will ultimately be discarded with the garbage. In addition to its overreliance on single-use plastic products and lack of adequate recycling programs, many Indian states have failed to provide data on their plastic consumption and disposal since 2016.

Reversing Air Pollution

In 2015, India’s Federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Steering Committee on Air Pollution and Health Related Issues submitted the nation’s first official report in which the health effects of air pollution were directly addressed. In this report that was submitted to India’s federal government, committee members proposed various measures that they believed would provide India with the largest reduction in air pollution to improve overall health of exposed individuals.

Of the 12 proposals included in this report include the following recommendations:

  • Clean energy sources for household stoves
  • Increase public transportation accessibility
  • Reduce road traffic by increasing fuel taxes and parking fees
  • Incorporate congestion charges on vehicles
  • Creation of vehicle-free zones and cycle paths

India’s Plan to Eliminate Plastic

India’s newly re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in June of 2018 that all single-use plastic will be abolished in India by the year 2022. Some of the initial steps that India has taken to achieve this goal include replacing plastic cutlery, water bottles, teacups and carry bags with steel items in their government offices, which has already taken places in the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala’s Suchitwa Mission, which is a group of 28 fisherman, as well as several other local groups in Chennai and Versova, have also pledged to fish plastic water out of India’s numerous water bodies to preserve their marine ecosphere.

Other Indian states including Goa, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Punjab have imposed bans on plastic usage. Sikkim, which is the second smallest state in India, has been a leader in the crackdown on plastic usage. In fact, Sikkim became the first Indian state to abolish the use of disposable plastic bags in 1998. Furthermore, in 2016, Sikkim banned the use of single-use plastic water bottles, Styrofoam and thermocol disposable food products in all state government offices.

Conclusion

Although the state of India’s air and plastic pollution may have previously appeared bleak, the efforts that are being taken by federal, state and local groups are proving that this nation has the motivation to create a monumental change in the world.

References and Further Reading

  • “Why India’s air pollution is so horrendous”- Vox
  • “Air pollution in India caused 1.2 million deaths last year” – Quartz
  • “India takes steps to curb air pollution” – World Health Organization
  • “India is generating much more plastic waste than it reports. Here’s why” – IndiaSpend
  • “India pledges to beat plastic pollution by 2022: 5 steps that are fast tracking it already!” – The Better India

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Benedette Cuffari

Written by

Benedette Cuffari

After completing her Bachelor of Science in Toxicology with two minors in Spanish and Chemistry in 2016, Benedette continued her studies to complete her Master of Science in Toxicology in May of 2018. During graduate school, Benedette investigated the dermatotoxicity of mechlorethamine and bendamustine; two nitrogen mustard alkylating agents that are used in anticancer therapy.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Cuffari, Benedette. (2022, November 07). How India is Tackling Plastic Pollution and Emissions. AZoCleantech. Retrieved on December 14, 2024 from https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=910.

  • MLA

    Cuffari, Benedette. "How India is Tackling Plastic Pollution and Emissions". AZoCleantech. 14 December 2024. <https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=910>.

  • Chicago

    Cuffari, Benedette. "How India is Tackling Plastic Pollution and Emissions". AZoCleantech. https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=910. (accessed December 14, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Cuffari, Benedette. 2022. How India is Tackling Plastic Pollution and Emissions. AZoCleantech, viewed 14 December 2024, https://www.azocleantech.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=910.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.