Curriculum The Economics of Clean Air
The Economics of Clean Air
Why India's air is among the world's most polluted and what it would take to fix it: pollution sources, PM2.5 and health, Delhi's winter smog, stubble burning, measuring air quality, the National Clean Air Programme, coal plant scrubbers, emergency measures, effects on productivity and learning, Beijing's clean-up and airshed management.
- Where India's Air Pollution Comes From The main sources of India's air pollution - vehicles, industry, power plants, dust, household fuels and crop burning - and why sources differ by city and season. 📄 Read-aloud
- PM2.5 and Health What PM2.5 particles are, how they harm the heart and lungs, how India's levels compare with WHO guidelines, and estimates of how many years of life pollution costs. 📄 Read-aloud
- Delhi's Winter Smog Why Delhi's air becomes dangerously polluted every October to January, how weather and stubble smoke combine, and the economic costs of the annual crisis. 📄 Read-aloud
- Why Farmers Burn Stubble Why Punjab and Haryana farmers burn rice residue after harvest, the economics behind it, and the alternatives like machines, markets for straw and crop diversification. 📄 Read-aloud
- Measuring Air Quality: AQI and Monitors How India's Air Quality Index turns pollutant readings into categories, why monitoring stations are unevenly spread, and how low-cost sensors and satellites help. 📄 Read-aloud
- The National Clean Air Programme How India's 2019 National Clean Air Programme set targets to cut particulate pollution in over 130 cities, how funds are tied to results, and what progress has been made. 📄 Read-aloud
- The Economics of Clean Air: Checkpoint 1 Quick checkpoint - five questions on pollution sources, PM2.5, Delhi's smog, stubble burning and AQI. 5 questions
- Coal Plants and Scrubbers How India set emission limits for coal power plants in 2015, why installing sulphur scrubbers (FGD) was repeatedly delayed, and the 2025 relaxation of the rule. 📄 Read-aloud
- Odd-Even and Emergency Measures How Delhi's odd-even car rationing, construction bans and smog towers worked as emergency measures, what research found, and why short-term fixes aren't enough. 📄 Read-aloud
- Pollution, Productivity and Learning How research shows air pollution lowers worker productivity, students' test scores and even cognitive performance, adding to its economic costs. 📄 Read-aloud
- How Beijing Cleaned Its Air How China's 2013 action plan cut Beijing's PM2.5 by more than half within about a decade, the measures used, and lessons for Indian cities. 📄 Read-aloud
- Airsheds: Why Cities Can't Clean Air Alone Why pollution crosses city and state boundaries, how the Indo-Gangetic Plain forms one airshed, and why regional bodies like the Commission for Air Quality Management matter. 📄 Read-aloud
- A Path to Clean Air What a serious clean air strategy for India would include, from clean energy and transport to enforcement and regional coordination, and a recap of the module. 📄 Read-aloud