The Delhi government’s Transport Department and the University of Chicago Trust (UC Trust) on May 12 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate “an evidence-based approach to reducing vehicular pollution in Delhi”.

The partnership will also involve setting up a research unit to design innovative policy interventions, as per a press release by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, India (EPIC-India, that partners with numerous stakeholders to work on areas including electricity and markets).

Vehicular pollution and Delhi

Vehicular emissions – which produce pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM, which can cause numerous health-related illnesses including respiratory issues) – are among the contributors to Delhi’s air pollution. On-road PM emissions consist of both exhaust and non-exhaust components (such as PM caused by wearing of tyres and brakes). Studies in both 2021 and 2022 by the Centre for Science and Environment found that among local sources, vehicles contributed to around half of Delhi’s particulate pollution in October-November (including Diwali week).

The MoU signed between the Delhi government’s Transport Department and the University of Chicago Trust (UC Trust) on May 12 aims to use data to design and develop policy interventions and solutions to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital.