Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 Report by EPIC

Air Quality Life Index:Prepared by: The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)
Report Year: 2025 (based on 2023 data) .

Global Trends:
- In 2023, global PM₂.₅ concentrations rose by 1.5% compared to 2022 and remain nearly five times higher than the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ .
- Air pollution remains the greatest external threat to human health, rivaling tobacco and far exceeding other risks like alcohol, transport injuries, HIV/AIDS, and unsafe water .
- If PM₂.₅ were reduced to WHO levels, the world could gain approximately 1.9 years of average life expectancy, equating to 15.1 billion life years saved.
Regional Highlight.
South Asia remains the most polluted region, with PM₂.₅ levels rising 2.8% in 2023 after a dip in 2022 .
Wildfires in Canada triggered the worst air quality since records began (1998), while parts of the U.S. experienced their highest PM₂.₅ levels since 2011
India-Specific Findings:
Indian residents lose an average of 3.5 years of life expectancy due to particulate pollution—far more than other health threats like malnutrition or unsafe water .
Monitoring Gaps:
- While air quality monitoring has improved globally—with 85% of people now covered by government data—5.5 billion people still lack meaningful access.
- Many countries have fewer than three monitors per million people, the minimal recommended standard.

Prelims:
- Key terms: AQLI, PM₂.₅, WHO guideline, life expectancy impact.
- Data points: Global rise in pollution, India losing 3.5 years, Delhi-NCR losing 8.2 years.
Mains (GS Paper 3 – Environment & Health):
- Discuss how quantitative indices like AQLI help understand policy implications of air pollution.
- Use India’s data to illustrate public health challenges, urban pollution hotspots, and policy efficacy.
- Evaluate initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), CAQM, and emission standards in context with AQLI findings.

September 5, 2025

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