After nearly a century of industrialization, India is alarmingly behind in terms of its infrastructure to safeguard its environment or the health of people from pollution. Air pollution monitoring and regulation in particular are lacking, with the world’s fourth largest economy for a long time having no standards for some of the most toxic and commonly found air pollutants.

Since 2003, Global Community Monitor has been working with leading Indian activists and organizations through our Community Environmental Monitor partnership to introduce community-based environmental monitoring to raise awareness about the health impacts of air pollution and to bring about change.

As a result of our air toxics study and petition to the Indian Supreme Court Monitoring Committee, we won an order against continued release of toxic air emissions beyond the fenceline of polluting facilities, monitoring for toxic gases for the first time in India and establishment of health screening levels for toxics based on US EPA standards.

Our partners in India are a prime example of how a regional “Bucket Brigade” model can function and succeed as they conduct trainings on environmental monitoring, interpret and effectively use the data in campaigns and adapt models of effective advocacy in different cultural and political situations throughout diverse areas in India.