Under the EU-UNDP collaborative global project, Advancing Health and Environmental Sustainability through Action on Air Pollution, a global initiative was launched to address pollution and its impact on public health. This project focuses on reducing air pollution and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by strengthening multi-sectoral stakeholder governance at national and local levels. It has also facilitated the development of a Legal Environment Assessment (LEA) for air pollution and health.

According to the UNDP’s report, Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for Air Pollution Mitigation in Amritsar, India 2025-2030 (UNDP, 2024), air pollution poses a serious threat to public health in Amritsar, contributing significantly to preventable mortality. However, targeted interventions can help mitigate this impact. For example, developing roadside greenbelts could prevent approximately 875 deaths, while transitioning industries to cleaner fuels might avert an additional 785 deaths. These findings highlight the urgent need for city-specific, multi-sectoral strategies to reduce pollution and safeguard Amritsar’s population.

The report outlines the key challenges in controlling air pollution and proposes targeted strategies through a multi-sectoral action plan. Extensive stakeholder engagement was conducted to assess the challenges faced by authorities and other stakeholders, while also analyzing existing coordination mechanisms for air pollution management. Based on these insights, a new coordination framework has been proposed to bridge gaps and enhance decision-making and data flow, ultimately improving air quality management in the city. This initiative lays the foundation for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach tailored to Amritsar’s specific challenges, aligning with national objectives and promoting sustainable development.