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How will climate change affect ambient air pollution and what can policy-makers do now? Lessons from India

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Listed:
  • Avraham Ebenstein
  • Sangeeta Bansal
  • Sagnik Dey
  • Tanya Gupta
  • Kshitij Abhay
  • Avi Simhon

Abstract

Air pollution is a growing concern in India, and its adverse health effects are well documented. Climate change is likely to exacerbate this problem by altering weather patterns and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events. This paper examines the potential impact of climate change on ambient air pollution in India and its implications for policy design. Our analysis reveals that pollution in India is highly sensitive to variation in weather, particularly in the densely populated Indus-Gangetic Plain. Using our estimated relationship between weather and pollution, we predict that changing weather patterns will increase average PM2.5 concentrations by 3.1 µg/m3, leading to a loss of 364 million years of life expectancy. To address this challenge, we propose an emissions fee calibrated to be highest in regions most vulnerable to persistently high levels of pollution and most sensitive to future deterioration in air quality due to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Avraham Ebenstein & Sangeeta Bansal & Sagnik Dey & Tanya Gupta & Kshitij Abhay & Avi Simhon, 2023. "How will climate change affect ambient air pollution and what can policy-makers do now? Lessons from India," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 39(4), pages 810-827.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxford:v:39:y:2023:i:4:p:810-827.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oxrep/grad041
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