The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India organised a high-level stakeholder gathering at the India Habitat Centre in a significant step ahead of World Environment Day to address the country’s urgent environmental threats: air pollution and plastic waste. Under the theme "Clean Air For All," the gathering saw the presence of government officials, academics, civil society members, and international experts who discussed data-driven strategies for change.

“Pollution cannot be a seasonal and short-term concern”, said the Head of the Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP India, Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi. He further stated that, “We (India) need clear pathways – the country’s air quality goals must be collective commitments.”

The event showcased the latest developments in Hyperlocal Air Quality Monitoring, a novel and game-changing approach. The latest findings from UNDP's ongoing research in Patna and Gurugram, where citizen-generated data was being utilised to track and address air pollution, were presented by Shubham Tandon, the program lead. The study, which was funded by the Lacuna Fund and GIZ, offers encouraging new information about how real-time mapping of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions affects micro-level action plans in urban areas.

In addition to the data-driven approach, discussions about the critical use of technology were held. Experts Dr. Akshay Zadgaonkar and Dr. Anshu Sharma from SEEDs India presented how with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) environmental policies can be shaped through real-time data.

The necessity for integrated plans that would address trash management with broader climate resilience initiatives was emphasized by Priyanka Singh of the Council of Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), who said that the debates on plastic waste management were equally urgent.

TARA (Technology and Action for Rural Advancement) which was a key contributor to the project was represented by Anamoy Ranjan who showcased how the citizen science networks were helping cities like Patna and Gurugram generate hyperlocal datasets. “TARA’s presentation highlighted the challenges that are faced in managing a citizen science network and the steps needed to ensure data integrity, instead of relying solely on large-scale interventions, several small, community-driven changes can create measurable impact”, said Ranjan.

An open session was called which highlighted how environmental resilience can be achieved through multisectoral collaboration, innovation and empowered communities.

The event concluded with Gurugram’s Citizen Scientists getting commended for their exceptional commitments and efforts by UNDP and TARA. The participants were awarded certificates for their outstanding work in gathering and evaluating pollution data using air quality sensors. Their dedication to environmental monitoring was appropriately recognised underscoring the vital role that citizen-led projects play in promoting evidence-based solutions, a problem that is associated with Urban Problems.

As India gears up for this year’s World Environment Day, the initiative highlights an important shift from talking about pollution to taking important steps with informed precision. The message from the session was clear - Clean air is not a luxury, but it is a data-driven possibility.