Experts have emphasized the urgent need to improve how scientific evidence on air pollution is communicated to policymakers and the public to spur meaningful health and policy action.

They were participating in a webinar titled “Communicating Air Pollution Science for Public Health Actions: Evidence and Strategies,” organized by CAPHER-India and Climate Trends, on Friday. It brought together leading voices from academia, research, and media who discussed the growing public health crisis linked to air pollution, which causes millions of premature deaths annually and affects nearly every citizen in India.

Speakers highlighted that while data and research on pollution’s health impacts are widely available, the translation of science into public understanding and action remains weak. They urged scientists and institutions to communicate complex information in simpler, relatable ways that link health evidence to people’s daily experiences.

The discussion underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration—between researchers, communicators, and policymakers—to strengthen public awareness and build political momentum for clean air measures.

“The Delhi-NCR region is highly complex, with calm wind conditions that make pollution dispersion difficult. We want to know the sources of pollution- dhul is PM10 mainly in summer and dhuan- smoke coming from biomass and stubble burning, vehicles these are major sources of pollution,” said Dr. S D Attri, Member-Technical, Commission for Air Quality Management.
 
“While meteorology is beyond our control, emissions can be managed through strong policies and collaboration. That’s why we launched Sudh Vayu Sampath—a platform bringing together NGOs, citizens, and over 200 experts from public and private sectors. Our partnership with the Raahgiri Foundation has also helped develop a framework for future road design based on air quality considerations. Students have greatly benefited from this initiative. Public participation is crucial—today, AQI has become a household term, yet there’s confusion between AQI and PM levels. AQI reflects health impacts, and when it reaches the ‘severe’ category, even healthy people feel the effects. Accurate information and collaborative action are essential to protect public health,” Dr. Attri added.

The event also stressed that communication should go beyond numbers, using stories, visuals, and local examples to convey the real impact of air pollution on children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities awareness and accountability, ensuring public understanding translates into stronger policy implementation.

“To create public pressure for clean air, we must build critical public opinion. In our last couple of years we have seen that and research on air pollution is catching people’s attention. Thus, data must be linked to human stories—particularly those that show how pollution affects children’s health. People need to understand the salience, make a case for solutions which are long lasting,” said Aarti Khosla, founder and director, Climate Trends.