How solving India's winter air pollution will also help solve the global climate crisis

Every winter, several cities in the Indian subcontinent struggle with air pollution, specifically

black carbon in the form of particulate matter (PM2.5). Produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, black carbon causes air pollution, not just leading to

numerous health issues, but also accelerating global warming!

For India, investing in the reduction of black carbon can benefit climate and health, making it an effective low-hanging tool for dual impact.

The need to address pollutants like black carbon has never been more urgent. The world has

reached an almost irreversible climate tipping point: the widespread death of coral reefs as

confirmed by 160 scientists from the Global Tipping Points Report a few days ago. A strategy

that involves controlling short-lived climate pollutants, which have a high global warming

impact, as compared to carbon, could save us from the irreversible damage of climate change.

A health hazard

Black carbon is emitted from fossil fuels, usually in the form of fine particulate matter

(PM2.5 and PM1). Its small size allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs, where it can

trigger inflammation and exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma and chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to respiratory problems, black carbon

has also been linked to cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline. 

As per the WHO, air pollution is responsible for 29% of all deaths and diseases from lung cancer, 17% from acute lower respiratory infection, 25% from ischemic heart disease, 43% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 24% of all deaths from stroke globally. The IHME (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation) allocates particulate matter as the highest risk factor in India.

Climate super-pollutant

Black carbon is also an important climate pollutant, even though it is short-lived. Although it

stays in the air for a shorter period than carbon dioxide, it can have a disproportionately

high contribution to global warming. It absorbs sunlight, directly influencing the Earth’s

temperatures. It also settles on snow and ice surfaces, which reduces the albedo (reflectivity)

for those surfaces, further accelerating melting and exacerbating climate change. 

As per IPCC, the 100-year global warming potential for black carbon is 460, and the 20-year

The number is 1600 [Source]. This means that 1 ton of black carbon is equivalent to 460 tons of

carbon dioxide over a 100-year time frame, but equal to 1600 tons of carbon dioxide within a

20-year time frame. Most estimates place black carbon as the third-highest contributor to

global warming after carbon dioxide and methane!

If we want to stop climate change from reaching irreversible levels, controlling emissions like black carbon can serve as a low-hanging fruit. They are relatively easier to abate as compared to CO2, on a per CO2-equivalent basis.

Locating the smoking gun

The debate on who is responsible for the pollution has also continued for a while. With the onset of winter and post-Diwali, we will see a lot more of the blame game. Unfortunately, source apportionments are often tough for such a dispersed pollutant, but some studies have attempted to identify the sources for PM2.5.

Guttikunda S et al., published in 2019 for Bengaluru, showed the main sources of air pollution as transport (~27%), dust (~22%), and open waste burning (~14%). Another comparative analysis by CEEW showed that estimates vary between cities and over time, but the key sources mostly include transport (especially

trucks), Industries (direct usage of coal, electricity and captive diesel generators), thermal power plants, biomass burning (agricultural waste, municipal waste and residential cookstoves) as well as fugitive sources from construction dust.

Pathways for mitigation

Reducing black carbon emissions is often combined with a general trend of moving towards

greener alternatives. However, the transition has historically been slow. We now see the

solutions picking up pace with a conducive regulatory environment. Looking at various ventures

solving this problem, we see the following themes that emerge around these solutions and

the open white spaces for innovation and investment:

Electrification of heavy-duty transport

India has witnessed a high number of startups working on the electrification of transport,

although the efforts are concentrated on 2W, 3W, and small passenger vehicles. Some

startups have emerged in the commercial vehicle segment, and we are also seeing growth in

investments from incumbents. Electrification of heavy-duty trucks remains an unsolved

problem when it comes to decarbonising transport.

Grid-connected and thermal energy storage

Replacing coal power plants and diesel generators with renewables cannot happen without

reliable and low-cost storage. Advances have also been made to install grid-level energy

storage systems, with the first grid-connected 10MW/10MWh lithium-ion storage system in

2019. However, the deployment of grid-connected and industrial thermal storage remains to

be seen at scale and needs innovation and capital flow

Retrofitting for transition

The transition away from fossil fuels is slow, especially given that the existing infrastructure will take 10-15 years to be replaced with green alternatives. Controlling black carbon in the near term to avoid a climate tipping point requires retrofitting existing sources for immediate impact. We have seen regulations drive retrofitting of coal plants with flue gas desulfurization earlier, and recently, diesel generators are being retrofitted with emission control devices to reduce PM emissions. Funding this transition step needs to be done in parallel, along with switching to zero-emission options.

Circular economy for agri biomass

Biomass is a source of energy and cellulose, and finding a way to use it could obviate

burning for the farmers. The fundamental challenge with utilising waste is the low value as

fuel and the high cost of transportation over long distances. Investing in innovations that enable

Localised valorisation and upcycling of the biomass could enable farmers to move away from

open burning and create additional income.

It is evident that mitigating black carbon emissions is crucial for human health and climate

stability. The dual benefits, combined with stricter regulations on black carbon emissions

than carbon dioxide in India, create the right opportunity to create a sustainable business.

(Ankur Shrivastava is the Founder and Managing Partner at Momentum Capital.)