Air Quality Under a Changing Climate: Trends and Implications for Respiratory Diseases

Abstract

Climate change and deteriorating air quality constitute synergistic environmental stressors with profound implications for respiratory health, particularly in South Asia a region grappling with rapid urbanization, industrialization, and transboundary pollution. This review synthesizes a decade (2015-2024) of interdisciplinary research to assess the interplay between climatic shifts and air pollution dynamics, their health consequences, and policy responses. Findings reveal that rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events exacerbate atmospheric stagnation, photochemical ozone formation, and particulate matters (PM_2.5, PM₁₀) accumulation. South Asia’s urban centers, responsible for over 70% of regional emissions, face PM_2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines by 4-12 times, contributing to ~2.2 million annual premature deaths. Climate-driven wildfires, agricultural burning, and weakened monsoons further amplify pollution, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, through heightened risks of asthma, COPD, and acute respiratory infections. Economic analyses indicate pollution-related costs consume 1.36-4.8% of national GDPs, driven by healthcare burdens and productivity losses. While policies like India’s National Clean Air Program mark progress, fragmented governance, inadequate monitoring infrastructure, and overemphasis on vehicular emissions hinder efficacy. Strategic recommendations emphasize geospatial hotspot mapping, stringent industrial regulations, and multilateral airshed management to harmonize emission standards. The review underscores the imperative for integrated, data-driven policies that bridge climate adaptation and pollution mitigation, leveraging clean energy transitions and urban greening. Addressing this dual crisis demands urgent regional collaboration, robust health impact assessments, and interdisciplinary innovation to safeguard respiratory health and sustainable development in a warming world.