Delhi’s PM2.5 levels in 2024 were over 2x the national limit despite stubble burning dip—CSE report

New Delhi: The annual PM2.5 concentration in the national capital touched 104.7 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) in 2024, more than double the accepted national standard of 40 µg/m³, according to a report released Monday by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This is the second year in a row, since 2022, that Delhi’s annual air quality has gone down. 

During winters in 2024, Delhi’s peak PM2.5 level was 732 µg/m³, much higher than 2023’s peak of 580 µg/m³. All of this occurred at a time when the total number of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana, usually blamed for Delhi’s pollution, had reduced by 37 percent compared to 2023.

“This cannot be seen as an annual aberration due to meteorological factors. It indicates the impact of growing pollution in the region,” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, told ThePrint “Delhi seems to be losing its air pollution gains from the past.”

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These calculations are based on the CSE’s yearly assessment of air pollution based on PM2.5 levels, using data from 37 air quality monitoring stations spread across the city. The winter data was collected between 1 October and 31 December, showing the staggering 26 percent increase in peak PM2.5 levels compared to last year. 

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Also Read: Illegal garbage burning adds to Delhi’s air pollution woes. 2024 saw most instances since 2020

Winter pollution trends

Another concerning trend noticed this year by the CSE was the number and lengths of smog episodes this winter. More than three consecutive days of severe air quality is globally considered a smog episode, and this year Delhi had an 8-day-long episode from 13 to 20 November, and another for four days in December.

Moreover, while the Commission for Air Quality Management lauded Delhi for 209 days of air quality index (AQI) below 200 in 2024, in reality, there were only 121 days this year that saw air quality meeting the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) of below 40 µg/m³. And while the number of good air days increased from 25 in 2023 to 29 in 2024, there were no days that saw ‘good’ air quality during the winters of 2024. 

In its analysis of the farm fires this year, the CSE report used NASA’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to find that there was a steep decline in farm fires in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, especially in the winters. While there were about 37,276 fires recorded in 2023 during the winter months of October to December, there were only 10,712 fires in 2024 which meant a 71 percent decline.

The CSE’s analysis thus showed that reduction in farm fires does not necessarily mean a reduction in air pollution overall, and the report asks for more ‘systemic changes’ and reductions in year-long emissions.

 “Local and regional sources of pollution including vehicles, industries, open burning of waste, use of solid fuels, construction and dust sources have undermined Delhi’s longer term progress over the past decade,” said Roychowdhury, pointing that between 2018 and 2022, the AQI levels saw a downward trend.

(Edited by Radifah Kabir)

Also Read: Delhi recorded most number of clean air days in 2024 with ‘good-moderate’ AQI

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