Events

As India begins the process of reviewing and strengthening its national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), this roundtable will explore the means through which this process can be strengthened to best reflect the importance of these standards in national goal-setting and discourse.

The NAAQS are the basis of India’s definition of clean air and aid in our communication of health risks. Since they were last revised in 2009, global guidelines for air quality have been substantially strengthened making India’s standards relatively weak in comparison, and the national evidence base on the harmful effects of air pollution has grown significantly. Given the importance of the NAAQS in defining India’s ambition for clean air, it is essential that we establish strong processes to ensure that these standards are arrived at through a comprehensive and consultative process.

To frame the discussion, CPR will be releasing a paper that outlines core principles to be followed for the NAAQS revision to ensure that the systems that underlie such decadal decisions reflect their significance. The panel, representing the fields of environmental science, public health and public policy, will aim to bring their diverse perspectives to this complex challenge.

The CPR Initiative on Climate, Energy and Environment aims to stimulate an informed debate on the laws, policies and institutions shaping climate, energy and environmental governance in India. Our research focuses on improved understanding of climate, development and environmental challenges and pathways to improved outcomes, in four key areas: climate policy and institutions, the political economy of electricity in India, low-carbon energy demand patterns in urban areas, and air quality governance.