Kathmandu. As air pollution deepens in South Asia’s Indo-Gangetic plain and Himalayan foothills (IGP-HF), the region has become one of the world’s most serious development challenges. According to a World Bank report, about one billion people living in the region are forced to breathe unhealthy air. As a result, about 10 lakh people die prematurely every year.

The air pollution in the area is not only causing a lot of damage to the health but also to the economy. It is estimated that the economic deficit will be around 10 percent of the regional gross domestic product (GDP) annually.

The World Bank’s report titled ‘A Breath of Change: Clean Air Solutions for Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills’ shows that South Asia’s air quality can be significantly improved if coordinated and practical action is taken. The report concluded that reducing pollution would improve public health, increase productivity and support economic growth.

According to the report, there are five main sources of air pollution in the IGP-HF region, which includes parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Use of solid fuels for cooking, inefficient combustion of fossil fuels and biomass in industries and lack of filter technology, old and polluting vehicles, practice of crop residue burning in agriculture, poor management of manure and cattle, as well as burning of waste from households and businesses.

To address these problems, the report suggests measures that can be adopted immediately and have a long-term impact. The measures include increasing the use of electric stoves, modernizing and electrifying the boilers, furnaces and furnaces of industries, expanding non-motorized and electric transportation systems, scientific management of crop residues and livestock waste, and improving the classification, reuse and safe disposal of waste.

The report focuses on these clean air solutions in three basic areas. The first is to reduce pollution from sources in cooking, industry, transport, agriculture and waste management. Second, a monumental step to strengthen health and education systems to protect children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities in the journey to clean air. Third, strong institutional arrangements supported by legal and regulatory frameworks, market-based instruments and regional coordination to ensure sustainable progress.

Martin Hager, senior environmental economist at the World Bank, said the report offers a clear and practical roadmap for policymakers. According to him, the adoption of clean technology and practices provides solid foundations for the economic and financial benefits of all industries, households, and farmers in South Asia.

The report has put forward the concept of ‘four I’s’ to implement the solution. This includes information that provides reliable data for planning and accountability, incentives to shift attitudes and investments towards cleaner alternatives, institutions that coordinate between national and local governments to ensure implementation, and infrastructure for clean energy, transport and waste management.

“Achieving clean air requires continued collaboration, sustainable financing, and effective implementation,” said Ann Janet Glauber, World Bank South Asia Region Environment Practice Manager. Driven forward through shared efforts, South Asia can reduce pollution, save millions of lives, and make tangible strides toward ensuring clean air for all.