Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) | UPSC
HEADLINES:
Air pollution can cut 8 yrs off lives of 250 mln north Indians: Report
WHY IN NEWS:
Air pollution shortened the average life expectancy by 5.2 years in India, according to the report
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:AQI : Report : CPCB : Pollution
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS it is important to understand the key pollution emitters and the significance of this report . Your can also check the calculation methodology on the website given below .
For MAINS collect some key points to enrich your answers on Life expectancy .
ISSUE:
AIR QUALITY LIFE INDEX (AQLI)
TITLE
The Air Quality Life Index
PUBLISHED BY
Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
TIMELINE
The Air Quality Life Index data in the report was averaged across women, men and children globally, and covers period between 1998 and 2018.
AIR QUALITY LIFE INDEX
- This is helpful for public and policymakers alike can determine the benefits of air pollution policies in perhaps the most important measure that exists: longer lives.
SIGNIFICANCE OF AQLI
- Combining this analysis with highly localized pollution measurements yields unprecedented insight into the true cost of air pollution in communities around the world.
- The report focuses on how much longer they could live if their community complied with World Health Organization guidelines or national standards.
- It makes evident that policies that reduce fossil fuel use can allow people to live longer and healthier lives today.
KEY POINTS
- India, the world’s second-most polluted country (first is Bangladesh), air pollution shortened the average life expectancy by 5.2 years.
- Some regions in India fared much worse than the average, with air pollution shortening lives by 9.4 years in the national capital Delhi
- The highest loss of life expectancy in India was in UP’s capital city Lucknow.
- Lucknow has the highest pollution level in the country — 11 times greater than the WHO guideline .
- Its residents stand to lose 10.3 years of life expectancy if the same pollution levels persist.
SOUTH ASIA
- Particulate pollution has been on the rise in South Asia and shortens lives more than anywhere else in the world.
- The average resident of these four countries is exposed to particulate pollution levels that are 44 per cent higher than two decades ago.
EVALUATION-FINDINGS
- It added that electricity generation from fossil fuels tripled from 1998 to 2017 in these four countries combined.
- People in Bangladesh could live 6.2 years longer if pollution levels met the WHO guideline.
- EPIC’s robust team in India works hand-in-hand with government leaders to implement large-scale, pioneering projects .
IASbhai WINDUP:
The increase is not surprising.
- Over the course of the last 20 years, industrialisation, economic development and population growth have led to skyrocketing energy demand in these countries.
- Throughout history, countries all over the world have experienced intense air pollution during periods of rapid industrialization.
- These countries have largely been successful in confronting their pollution challenge thanks to a demand for change from their citizens and subsequent strong policies.
- The AQLI provides a metric to determine the benefits of these policies in terms of extended lives.
SOURCES:DownToEarth | Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) | UPSC
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