Topic 4

Building The Narrative: Addressing Household Air Pollution In India

Over the past decade, the narrative around air quality in India has made significant strides, with increasing public awareness and political will to tackle outdoor air pollution. However, household air pollution—caused primarily by the burning of solid fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting—remains an underrepresented issue in both public discourse and policy efforts. 41% of the Indian population still relies on biomass for cooking[1]. Burning of biomass, such as wood, cow dung, and crop residue, produces harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide. An average person's exposure to pollutants in India can be up to 13 times higher inside the home than outdoors[2]. PM 2.5 emissions from household sources contribute about 30 to 50% of overall ambient PM 2.5 levels in the country[3].

To build momentum and prioritise household air pollution as a critical issue in India, it is essential to develop a cohesive and sustained narrative that emphasises its significance, identifies the challenges, and presents practical solutions. This document outlines a strategy to deepen the narrative of household air pollution over the next few years, mobilising public awareness, policy reforms, and community engagement.

The Overlooked Crisis Of Household Air Pollution

Household air pollution (HAP) remains one of the largest contributors to India's overall air quality problem. According to a World Bank report, the economic loss due to HAP in India is estimated to be around 1.3% of the country's GDP. Despite the introduction of cleaner cooking solutions like LPG under government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which distributed over 100 million LPG connections to women by March 2023, a significant achievement[4] over 50% of the households that received new LPG cylinders as part of the scheme did not choose to refill it even once. Most households continue to use traditional methods due to various economic, social, and logistical barriers.

The lack of widespread recognition of HAP as a major public health threat is a key challenge in addressing this issue. While outdoor air pollution has garnered attention due to visible smog in cities and its links to industrial activity and transportation, the harmful effects of indoor air pollution often go unnoticed, as they are less visible but equally, if not more, dangerous. Women and children are disproportionately affected, with chronic exposure leading to severe health consequences. There is a clear need to elevate the narrative around HAP, ensuring that it is recognised as a significant public health, environmental, and social issue.

Building the Narrative: Key Elements

The following steps can guide the creation of the narrative to establish household air pollution as a critical issue in India:

Elevating Public Awareness And Health Impacts

The first step in building a robust narrative around household air pollution is raising awareness about the scale of the problem and its severe health implications. Public campaigns should focus on educating communities about how traditional cooking practices contribute to indoor air pollution, linking it to tangible health risks such as respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and heart disease. Messaging should also emphasise how HAP disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, who are most exposed to harmful smoke from cooking stoves.

Linking household air pollution to wider public health issues will also help bring it into the mainstream discourse. For example, emphasising how reducing HAP can contribute to lowering the overall burden of respiratory diseases in the country can make it more relevant to broader health policies. Collaborating with healthcare professionals to communicate these risks can further reinforce the message.

Engaging Stakeholders At All Levels

Building an effective narrative requires the involvement of various stakeholders, including government bodies, civil society organisations, healthcare providers, and the communities affected by HAP. Government agencies must take a leadership role by including household air pollution in national air quality action plans, such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). By integrating HAP into wider air quality goals, policymakers can ensure that the issue receives adequate attention and resources.

Civil society organisations play a crucial role in mobilising grassroots support and conducting awareness campaigns. Partnerships with local NGOs and community-based organisations can help educate rural and periurban populations about the dangers of household air pollution and promote the adoption of cleaner technologies. Engaging women's groups is particularly important, as women are often the primary decision-makers regarding household cooking practices.

At the community level, efforts should be made to involve local influencers and leaders in promoting cleaner alternatives. The success of such initiatives depends on culturally sensitive approaches that respect local traditions while offering practical, healthier alternatives.

Emphasising Economic And Environmental Benefits

An effective narrative should also highlight the economic and environmental benefits of addressing household air pollution. In many cases, the initial costs of switching to cleaner cooking technologies, such as LPG or improved biomass stoves, are a barrier for low-income households. Public messaging should make clear that while the upfront costs may be higher, the long-term savings—through reduced fuel consumption, improved health, and fewer medical expenses—outweigh these initial investments.

Additionally, emphasising the environmental impact of HAP is crucial in positioning it as a broader air quality issue. Highlighting the role of household air pollution in contributing to national and global environmental challenges can attract greater political and financial support.

Prioritising Solutions: Creating A Roadmap

To ensure that the narrative around household air pollution leads to meaningful action, it is essential to identify and promote solutions that are practical, scalable, and sustainable. The following solutions should be central to the narrative-building efforts:

Expanding Access To Cleaner Cooking Technologies

One of the most effective ways to reduce household air pollution is to provide households with access to cleaner cooking solutions. The PMUY scheme has been instrumental in expanding access to LPG, but more needs to be done to ensure that these technologies are used consistently and are affordable for low-income households. Government programmes should focus on addressing the barriers to continued LPG use, such as affordability, fuel availability, and cultural preferences for traditional stoves.

In addition to LPG, other clean cooking technologies, such as solar cookers, should be promoted where feasible. Public awareness campaigns should provide clear information about the health benefits of switching to cleaner alternatives, while also addressing common concerns about fuel costs and availability.

Strengthening Policy Integration And Enforcement

To ensure that household air pollution receives the attention it deserves, it must be integrated into existing air quality and public health policies. This includes incorporating HAP targets into the NCAP and other government programmes aimed at improving air quality. By aligning household air pollution reduction efforts with wider environmental and health goals, the issue can be elevated in national and state-level agendas.

Enforcement of regulations that limit the use of harmful fuels in densely populated areas should also be prioritised. Encouraging local governments to adopt stricter guidelines on the use of biomass for cooking and heating, especially in regions with high levels of household air pollution, can help reduce emissions. Incentivising the use of cleaner fuels through subsidies or other financial mechanisms can further accelerate the transition to cleaner technologies.

Promoting Behavioural Change And Community Engagement

Changing household cooking practices requires not just access to cleaner technologies but also a shift in cultural norms and behaviours. Public awareness campaigns should focus on educating communities about the health risks of traditional cooking methods and the benefits of switching to cleaner alternatives. Engaging women's groups and local women leaders can help ensure that these messages are culturally relevant and resonate with target audiences.

Community-based initiatives, such as training local women as clean energy ambassadors, can help build trust and encourage adoption of new technologies. These programmes can also provide a platform for women to share their experiences and challenges, helping to shape more effective interventions.

Fostering Innovation And Research

Investing in research and innovation is crucial to developing more affordable and accessible clean cooking technologies. Public and private sector partnerships should be encouraged to foster innovation in clean energy solutions that are tailored to the needs of rural and peri-urban households. Research into alternative fuels, improved biomass stoves, and renewable energy sources like solar power can provide new pathways for reducing household air pollution.

In addition, continuous monitoring of HAP levels and health outcomes in communities can help measure the impact of interventions and inform future policy decisions. Building a strong evidence base through research and data collection is key to sustaining the narrative and driving long-term change