Tackling air pollution requires cross-sector coordination, says health expert

Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, substantially increasing the risk of both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, health authorities have cautioned. The problem demands comprehensive, multi-pronged approaches rather than isolated policy measures, officials said.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan and other health experts have emphasized that tackling air quality requires coordinated action spanning diverse sectors including transport, industrial emissions, household fuel use, and waste management. Each sector contributes materially to air degradation and must be addressed through targeted interventions.

Effective air quality management necessitates sustained collaboration between multiple government ministries and departments, alongside private sector participation and public engagement. Transport authorities must focus on vehicle emissions standards, while industrial regulators need to enforce stricter pollution controls. Simultaneously, household energy transition programs promoting clean cooking fuels remain critical to reducing indoor and ambient air pollution.

The complexity of air pollution as a public health challenge underscores the need for integrated policy frameworks that transcend individual ministry mandates. Health officials stress that without coordinated, long-term commitment across all relevant sectors, air quality improvements will remain limited.