Process Analysis, Observations and Modelling - Integrated Solutions for Cleaner Air for Delhi (PROMOTE)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
Air pollution in cities such as Delhi is particularly acute and affects citizens on a daily basis. It has an impact in every aspect of peoples' lives including their health, travel, work, leisure and social interaction. In order to develop solutions to curtail impacts of air pollution, a multisectoral approach is required involving the public, transport, Industries, construction, civic services, public health and regulatory bodies. Our pathways to impact plan takes such an approach and seeks to involve a range of stakeholders including public groups, local and governmental policymakers as well as scientists through the pathways outlined below.
We will engage with stakeholders in the following ways:
2.1 Local city officers, national and regional policymakers
Local government officers will benefit from information on high resolution concentrations of air pollutants and how they relate to local situations such as congested road, industrial activities and domestic and personal life styles. UK and Indian partners will jointly produce an executive summary for policy makers in year 1, mid-term and a final document in year 4, for example on recommendations to support the development of air pollution mitigation policies and action plans for the NCR through WP5 activities. This document will be widely disseminated through the project website, and email followed up with a dissemination workshop in years 2 and 4 for key stakeholders. We will contribute to improvement of the SAFAR programme and we will exploit the existing links through this programme to inform local government policy makers. Measures of success: A key measure will be the use of scientific outputs to inform local and national policy briefings and scientific assessments.
2.2 Science community
One day science workshops will be held back to back with our project meetings and we will invite key scientists from MoES and NERC, universities and the wider science community. We will exploit our current involvement in international science projects and assessment programmes to directly influence the international science agenda through major activities such as CMIP6, AQMEII and HTAP. Science results from the project will be presented at major international conferences such as the International Air Quality Conference, and meetings of EGU, IGAC and AGU. For capacity building of young researchers in India, training workshops on Air Quality and Climate Modelling will be organized and held at IITM. Measures of success: A key measure will be citations of the papers and the use of the publications to support the development of mitigation and policy interventions.
2.3 General public and media communication
We will target media, press agencies, policy makers, business, schools and colleges and the general public through our existing institutional press offices and outreach programmes. The involvement of the public will be encouraged by
communication of air quality related information through social media and regular media announcement to raise awareness of the project and its outcomes. Press releases will be issued both in the UK and India during key stages of the project, and to coincide with major pollution episodes in Delhi (typically in December/January) to maximise the reach of our project results. Partner institutions take part in national and regional science festivals and regularly give talks to schools and local societies. One day workshops organised by IRADe with other partners for media, researchers, school teachers, NGOs and policy makers will be organized to develop awareness about the impact of poor air quality, mitigation initiatives and also to provide an update about the achievements of PROMOTE. Measures of success: Key success measures will include press and media coverage, news releases, media interviews and engagement in public information events including at schools.
We will engage with stakeholders in the following ways:
2.1 Local city officers, national and regional policymakers
Local government officers will benefit from information on high resolution concentrations of air pollutants and how they relate to local situations such as congested road, industrial activities and domestic and personal life styles. UK and Indian partners will jointly produce an executive summary for policy makers in year 1, mid-term and a final document in year 4, for example on recommendations to support the development of air pollution mitigation policies and action plans for the NCR through WP5 activities. This document will be widely disseminated through the project website, and email followed up with a dissemination workshop in years 2 and 4 for key stakeholders. We will contribute to improvement of the SAFAR programme and we will exploit the existing links through this programme to inform local government policy makers. Measures of success: A key measure will be the use of scientific outputs to inform local and national policy briefings and scientific assessments.
2.2 Science community
One day science workshops will be held back to back with our project meetings and we will invite key scientists from MoES and NERC, universities and the wider science community. We will exploit our current involvement in international science projects and assessment programmes to directly influence the international science agenda through major activities such as CMIP6, AQMEII and HTAP. Science results from the project will be presented at major international conferences such as the International Air Quality Conference, and meetings of EGU, IGAC and AGU. For capacity building of young researchers in India, training workshops on Air Quality and Climate Modelling will be organized and held at IITM. Measures of success: A key measure will be citations of the papers and the use of the publications to support the development of mitigation and policy interventions.
2.3 General public and media communication
We will target media, press agencies, policy makers, business, schools and colleges and the general public through our existing institutional press offices and outreach programmes. The involvement of the public will be encouraged by
communication of air quality related information through social media and regular media announcement to raise awareness of the project and its outcomes. Press releases will be issued both in the UK and India during key stages of the project, and to coincide with major pollution episodes in Delhi (typically in December/January) to maximise the reach of our project results. Partner institutions take part in national and regional science festivals and regularly give talks to schools and local societies. One day workshops organised by IRADe with other partners for media, researchers, school teachers, NGOs and policy makers will be organized to develop awareness about the impact of poor air quality, mitigation initiatives and also to provide an update about the achievements of PROMOTE. Measures of success: Key success measures will include press and media coverage, news releases, media interviews and engagement in public information events including at schools.
Organisations
Publications
Archer-Nicholls S
(2023)
Large simulated future changes in the nitrate radical under the CMIP6 SSP scenarios: implications for oxidation chemistry
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Archer-Nicholls S
(2021)
The Common Representative Intermediates Mechanism Version 2 in the United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosols Model
in Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Archibald A
(2020)
Description and evaluation of the UKCA stratosphere-troposphere chemistry scheme (StratTrop vn 1.0) implemented in UKESM1
in Geoscientific Model Development
Archibald AT
(2020)
On the changes in surface ozone over the twenty-first century: sensitivity to changes in surface temperature and chemical mechanisms.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Chen Y
(2020)
Mitigation of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and ozone pollution in Delhi: a sensitivity study during the pre-monsoon period
in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Chen Y
(2021)
Avoiding high ozone pollution in Delhi, India.
in Faraday discussions
D'Souza J
(2021)
Projected changes in seasonal and extreme summertime temperature and precipitation in India in response to COVID-19 recovery emissions scenarios
in Environmental Research Letters
| Description | We have shown through a series of studies that there are significant pathways to improve air quality in Delhi and India as a whole. However, some difficult decisions need to be addressed in mitigating air pollution as there is the potential for win-lose situations if only single pollutants are focused on. We suggest multi pollutant strategies in order to mitigate and reduce the harmful effects of air pollution. |
| Exploitation Route | 1. Social Impact The modelling work we have done makes it clear that there are ready solutions to improve air pollution in India through the mitigation of sulfur and NOx emissions. This will lead to cleaner air, brighter skies and a boost to the society at large. Anecdotal evidence during the lockdown confirms these modelling results (which were completed before the lockdown started). 2. Economic Impact We have not assessed the economic impacts but it is widely acknowledged that there are economic benefits to spending money to clean up air pollution (see for example the UK Clean Air strategy) 3. Contribution to gender, inclusivity and equality We have not assessed this in our work. 4. Environmental sustainability We have shown using model calculations that the solutions to environmental sustainability come through mitigating man made emissions of aerosol precursors. These results can empower others with evidence for a change in policy in Delhi and India as a whole. |
| Sectors | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | BBC Radio Cambridge interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by BBC Radio Cambridge to talk about how the lockdown and how it was different in the UK and India. This resulted in some twitter attention which helped spark further questions and answers on the topic. I was able to discuss how that in spite of the huge impacts to our way of life there was likely to be a minimal impact on the climate system. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Radio interview on air pollution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by BBC Cambridgeshire to give expert advice on exposure to air pollutants that are coming from a fire in Cambridge. This involved talking live on air as part of the BBC Cambridge breakfast show as part of a morning news piece they produced about the fire. General statistics for BBC Radio Cambridgeshire show that over 100,000 people listen per week (https://media.info/radio/stations/bbc-radio-cambridgeshire/listening-figures). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Radio interview on air pollution from fires |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was invited by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to join Thordis on the morning programme on the 9th of January 2019 to talk about an ongoing fire in St Ives. I was asked to discuss air pollution in general terms and highlighted how work like that we do in PROMOTE helps us understand global air pollution. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |