Air pollution is the leading environmental health risk globally which accounted for 8.1 million deaths in 2021, whereas in India it contributed to 2.1 million deaths. The sources and causes of air pollution vary by place, across seasons and over time, posing a daunting challenge to human development. This requires determining the cause and how best it ought to tackle air pollution at source. We are working with governments towards addressing sources, identifying solutions and mitigation. Considering the multi-sectoral nature of the solutions, this needs transition in clean air-oriented technology and processes. Our key focus areas for enabling cleaner air action include:  

Clean Construction Transition 
We are working with public- and private-sector stakeholders to accelerate widespread adoption of clean construction and demolition practices. Our efforts include helping build coalitions, conducting scientific pilots, developing tools and frameworks for monitoring and compliance, and accelerating circularity in construction & demolition waste.  
 

Eliminating Open Waste Burning 
Through extensive on-ground surveys, we are helping cities quantify the magnitude and impact of open waste burning on air quality along with identifying existing conditions that need redressal. Armed with this data, we are supporting cities to develop targeted mitigation plans along with building the capacity of stakeholders towards achieving zero open municipal waste burning and improving the overall waste management system through sustainable practices.  

Reducing Transport Emissions  
We are leveraging research and capacity building to help cities reduce vehicular emissions. We support on polices, programs and projects across government to identify strategies such as transition towards clean fuel, shift to shared mobility, enhance freight transport efficiency, application of solutions in focused areas towards achieving Low Emission Zone (LEZ). 

Mitigating Road Dust Through Scientific Approach 
We are supporting cities in adopting science-based approaches towards road dust mitigation. Our work equips cities with the requisite analytical tools for determining the extent and location of dust hotspots as well as decision-making frameworks that can guide the deployment of road cleaning operations and strategies towards identifying and controlling at the source.    

Accelerating Cleaner Fuel Transition in Bakeries 
We help cities engage with commercial establishments to build consensual pathways for enabling an industry-wide transition to cleaner fuels. This includes identifying governance framework for subsidizing smoother transition towards cleaner fuels, engaging stakeholders, bringing data into the decision-making process and evaluating technologies.  

Enhancing Industry Capacity for Pollution Control 
We are supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through specialized training and technical assistance to reduce emissions by emphasizing operational efficiency and developing framework for adoption of suitable pollution control mechanism. 

Strengthening Data, Research & Airshed Governance 
We work with partners from across the ecosystem to advance science-based air quality management to help inform regional-level governance models and enhance local-level data capabilities. We perform data analytics, generate insights on impact of sources and support on-ground assessment of intervention effectiveness.