New Delhi: The Indian government has asserted that it does not rely on external rankings related to climate change and pollution for its policy formulation. Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh, addressed the Parliament on Thursday, stating that the government does not recognize any external ranking as a basis for domestic policy.

This declaration comes in response to questions raised in the Rajya Sabha regarding India's position in various global indices, including the Global Climate Risk Index, IQAir's World Air Quality Ranking, the WHO Global Air Quality Database, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) metrics.

Regarding air quality, Singh clarified that the "worldwide ranking of cities for pollution levels is not being conducted by official authority". He emphasized that the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guidelines are advisory and not binding standards, intended to guide countries in setting their own standards based on factors like geography, environmental conditions, and national circumstances. India has already established its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 12 pollutants to protect public health and environmental quality.

Instead of relying on external assessments, the government conducts its own annual air quality survey, "Swachh Vayu Survekshan", to evaluate and rank 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) based on their measures to improve air quality. Better-performing cities are recognized each year on National Swachh Vayu Diwas.

Addressing concerns about the Global Climate Risk Index, which ranked India ninth among countries most affected by extreme weather events, the ministry pointed out that estimates of economic losses from extreme weather vary widely. It also said that isolating the climate component of total losses remains a challenge. The Global Climate Risk Index analyzes fatalities and economic losses due to extreme weather events. The latest report indicated that India reported a loss of over 80,000 lives and nearly $170 billion in 430 extreme weather events over the past three decades.

The ministry stated that India addresses the impacts of extreme weather events through the National Policy on Disaster Management, which aims to build a "safe and disaster-resilient India". This policy encompasses institutional, legal, and financial arrangements, along with strategies for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery.

India's climate action is also guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), and all states and Union territories have prepared their State Action Plans on Climate Change aligned with the NAPCC. The implementation of these plans is the responsibility of the respective governments.

The government's stance reflects a preference for domestic assessments and standards, tailored to India's specific conditions and priorities, rather than adhering to external rankings that may not fully capture the country's efforts and progress in environmental management and climate action.