Air pollution and climate change: The ignored curse of rural India

India’s true essence — encompassing its diversity, zeal, culture, and spirit — is rooted in its rural areas. However, the gloomy blanket of air pollution conceals the very soul of our nation. We are experiencing alarming signs of the warming climate and its linkage to air pollution. Though poor air quality has largely impacted rural health and well-being, most mitigation efforts continue to focus on urban problems, ignoring rural air pollution.

Viewing air pollution as a national crisis, consolidated efforts should seek better harmony in rural and urban sectors in order to ensure substantial impacts of pollution control measures.