Michael Greenstone, director of the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago and a leader in environmental economics, commented on India’s latest announcement to make air quality data available to the public:

“This is an important step forward, as transparency and/or data collection is a necessary step in addressing air pollution. However, it is not sufficient. The next step is to identify effective environmental regulations. And given the important emphasis that India places on growth, the obvious approach is to embrace market-based environmental regulations like the cap-and-trade program for particulates that India has been developing for the last several years.”

Greenstone continued, “Another potential benefit is that this index will increase awareness about air pollution and its harm to public health. In a recent paper, I found that environmental regulations are most likely to succeed in India when there is strong public support for them.”

Areas of Focus: Climate Change
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Climate Change
Climate change is an urgent global challenge. EPIC research is helping to assess its impacts, quantify its costs, and identify an efficient set of policies to reduce emissions and adapt...
Climate Law & Policy
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Climate Law & Policy
As countries around the world implement policies to confront climate change, EPIC research is calculating which policies will have the most impact for the least cost.
Environment
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Environment
Producing and using energy damages people’s health and the environment. EPIC research is quantifying the social costs of energy choices and uncovering policies that help protect health while facilitating growth.
Air Pollution
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Air Pollution
Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion poses a grave threat to human health worldwide. EPIC research is using real-world data to calculate the effects of air pollution on human health...
Definition
Air Pollution
Definition
Air Pollution
Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion poses a grave threat to human health worldwide. EPIC research is using real-world data to calculate the effects of air pollution on human health...