Publications·December 31, 2018
This landmark report provides a comprehensive scientific assessment of air pollution in Asia and the Pacific, its impacts on health, climate, ecosystems, and socio-economic development, and identifies 25 cost-effective measures to drastically improve air quality by 2030. It emphasizes the interlinkages between air pollution, climate change, and sustainable development goals (SDGs), offering actionable solutions tailored to the region’s diversity.
Current Status and Urgency
92% of the region’s population (≈4 billion people) is exposed to PM₂.₅ levels above WHO guidelines (10 µg/m³).
Regional mean PM₂.₅ concentration in 2016: 58 µg/m³; indoor exposure in solid-fuel households: 300–3,000 µg/m³.
Less than 8% of the population enjoyed clean air in 2015.
Without further action, air quality will stagnate despite economic growth, leaving billions exposed.
Health Burden
Air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths annually worldwide, with Asia-Pacific bearing the largest share.
Indoor pollution alone caused 4.3 million deaths in 2012, disproportionately affecting women and children.
Diseases linked to PM₂.₅ and ozone: heart disease, stroke, COPD, lung cancer, child respiratory infections.
Economic cost: US$5.11 trillion global welfare losses (2013); South Asia loses 0.83% of GDP annually to air pollution.
Climate Interactions
Air pollutants and greenhouse gases share sources (transport, energy, industry).
Black carbon (BC) accelerates glacier melt in the Hindu Kush–Himalayan region; BC deposition increased 41% (1996–2010).
Climate change worsens air quality: warming boosts ozone formation (+9 ppb projected in East Asia by century’s end).
SLCP mitigation (BC, CH₄, HFCs) can avoid 0.3°C warming by 2050, complementing CO₂ reduction.
Agricultural and Ecosystem Impacts
Ground-level ozone reduces crop yields:Wheat losses in India: 18.9% (2010); Punjab/Haryana: 27–41% (2012–2014).
All-India annual loss: wheat 4–14 Mt, rice 0.3–6.7 Mt.
Future projections: yield loss ↑ 2–16% for grains, 28–35% for soybeans by 2020 vs 1990.
Acid rain and nitrogen deposition damage forests, soils, and biodiversity.
Particulate matter alters solar radiation, affecting photosynthesis and carbon cycles.
Socio-Economic and Urbanization Trends
Asia-Pacific urban population: 4.5 billion (2016); projected two-thirds urban by 2050.
Seven of the world’s ten most polluted cities are in Asia; transboundary haze episodes (e.g., 2015 Southeast Asia fires) caused US$16.1 billion losses in Indonesia.
Air pollution undermines city competitiveness and labor productivity.
Top 25 Clean Air Measures
Grouped into three categories:
Conventional MeasuresPost-combustion controls in power plants and industry.
Advanced emissions standards for vehicles and industrial processes.
Vehicle inspection and maintenance; dust suppression.
Next-Stage MeasuresBan open burning of crop residues and household waste.
Prevent forest and peatland fires.
Improve manure and fertilizer management.
Upgrade brick kilns; control shipping emissions; reduce solvent use.
Development Priority MeasuresClean cooking/heating (LPG, electricity, advanced biomass stoves).
Expand renewables; enforce energy efficiency standards.
Promote electric vehicles and public transport.
Improve solid waste and wastewater management.
Recover coal mine gas and petroleum gas; phase out HFCs (Kigali Amendment compliance).
Expected Benefits by 2030
Air Quality:WHO guideline compliance for 1 billion people (up from 360 million in 2015).
Exposure above WHO Interim Target ↓ 80% (to 430 million people).
Health:PM₂.₅ exposure ↓ 56%; premature deaths ↓ 31–37%.
Indoor air pollution deaths ↓ 1.2–2.0 million/year.
Ozone-related deaths ↓ 40%.
Agriculture:O₃-induced crop loss ↓ 45% (~20 million tonnes saved).
Climate:Global warming ↓ 0.33°C by 2050; CO₂ emissions ↓ 20% by 2030.
SDGs:Direct contribution to SDG 3 (Health), SDG 11 (Cities), SDG 12 (Consumption), SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Costs:US$300–600 billion/year (~5% of projected GDP increase by 2030).
Benefits outweigh costs many times over.
Implementation Challenges
Governance: Requires inter-agency coordination, regional cooperation, and strong compliance mechanisms.
Financing: Domestic budgets, private sector investment, concessional loans, climate finance, green bonds.
Capacity Building: Technical expertise, monitoring systems, and stakeholder engagement.
Tailored Approaches: Solutions must reflect national circumstances and subregional diversity.
Highlighted Keywords
PM₂.₅, Ozone, Black Carbon, Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), Transboundary Haze, Indoor Air Pollution, Crop Yield Loss, Acid Deposition, Sustainable Development Goals, Clean Cooking, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy, GAINS Model, WHO Guidelines, Climate Penalty, Top 25 Measures.