The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser today convened a stakeholders’ meeting on air quality and climate change in New Delhi. The meeting reinforced the imperative to develop a comprehensive resource framework that provides a multi-sectoral, science-based, integrated solution, spanning both fundamental and applied science, management, and policy interventions. The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, in a statement, said that this approach can deliver co-benefits for both climate change mitigation and public health.

The meeting was chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the government, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood. In his opening address, Prof. Sood highlighted the critical importance of improving air quality in the context of rapidly changing climatic conditions, underlining its significant implications for public health and environmental sustainability. He stressed that air pollution is a multifaceted issue influenced by a multitude of factors. He also emphasized that the meeting aimed to brainstorm the findings of the study conducted by NIAS and to discuss ways to incorporate science-based strategies for effective pollution control across both short- and long-term timeframes. The meeting was attended by senior officials from various ministries and institutions.