#IMPRI Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi invites you to the #WebPolicyTalk series:
The State of Environment – #PlanetTalks
A Panel Discussion on
Air Pollution Crisis: Policy, Politics, Impact
A critical exploration of India’s air pollution emergency, examining its political drivers, human impacts, and the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
VIDEOS:
Live: https://youtube.com/live/3Q_qaxTjy3c
HQ: https://youtu.be/UJTk6qIAAmo
Podcast: Spotify
Details of the #WebPolicyTalk:
Date: December 3rd, 2025 (Wednesday)
Time: 3 – 4:30 PM IST
Platform: Zoom | YouTube Live @ YouTube.com/@impriindia | Spotify
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BegbZzcXSwS1FVLoJj2Vuw
About
Organized by the IMPRI Center for Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, this panel discussion brings together experts, practitioners, and policy thinkers to unpack one of India’s most persistent and pressing environmental challenges: the air pollution crisis. As levels of toxic air continue to rise across major cities, especially in and around New Delhi, IMPRI aims to foster informed dialogue rooted in research, evidence, and actionable policy insights.
India’s air pollution challenge is not merely an environmental issue—it is a multidimensional crisis shaped by economic choices, governance structures, and political priorities. From vehicular emissions and industrial pollutants to agricultural practices and urban planning failures, the crisis stems from a complex web of systemic factors. This discussion explores how political will, public policy, and institutional accountability influence both the causes and the effectiveness of responses to worsening air quality.
Beyond policy and politics, the session foregrounds the profound human impacts of toxic air—ranging from serious health implications to long-term socioeconomic burdens on vulnerable populations. By situating scientific data alongside lived experiences, the panel seeks to highlight the urgency of coordinated and equitable action. The conversation encourages participants to reimagine cleaner futures, rethink governance frameworks, and contribute to building a sustainable, breathable India.
Objectives
- To analyze the key sources, trends, and scientific evidence behind India’s escalating air pollution crisis, with a focus on the Delhi-NCR region.
- To examine the role of governance, policy decisions, and political dynamics in shaping both the causes of and responses to air pollution.
- To assess the health, social, and economic impacts of deteriorating air quality, particularly on vulnerable and marginalized communities.
- To identify actionable, evidence-based strategies and multi-stakeholder solutions for mitigating air pollution and advancing sustainable, long-term environmental governance.
Program Experts
Chair & Moderator: Dr Urvashi Prasad, Former Director, Office of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, New Delhi; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI
Panelists:
Mr Soumya Dutta, Founding co-convener, SAPACC (South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis); Former Advisory Board member, UN Climate Technology Centre & Network; Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI
Prof Anil Kumar Gupta, Professor & Chief Executive, Integrated Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainability ICARS, IIT Roorkee
Dr Gufran-Ullah Beig, Chair Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), (IISc); Founder Project Director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)
Mr Himanshu Shekhar Mishra, Senior Editor, NDTV
Ms Bhavreen Kandhari, Founder, Warrior Moms
Previous Discussion on Air Pollution: https://youtu.be/6cpzNLHmNPY?si=ojV26yxCfJOyNWwa
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Upcoming and Previous IMPRI #WebPolicyTalk series Events: See here
Air Pollution Crisis: Policy, Politics, Impact | Panel Discussion | December 2025 | #PlanetTalks
Organizer
IMPRI, a startup research think tank, is a platform for pro-active, independent, non-partisan and policy-based research. It contributes to debates and deliberations for action-based solutions to a host of strategic issues. IMPRI is committed to democracy, mobilization and community building.