Oxford Study Links Coal Power to Rising Urban Air Pollution and Deaths in India

Research led by the University of Oxford indicates that while rapid economic growth in India has significantly expanded access to electricity and cleaner cooking, the increasing dependence on coal-fired power has exacerbated outdoor air pollution. This study, published in Nature Cities, highlights a direct link between the nation’s coal-based energy expansion and a sharp increase in urban air pollution-related deaths.

The findings reveal that the major gains in energy access and cooking methods have been accompanied by deteriorating air quality due to the growing reliance on coal. Consequently, the research underscores that the economic progress achieved through these methods has come at the cost of rising urban mortality rates associated with polluted air.