Archive · 17 Dec 2025
World Bank Proposes '35 by 35' for Cleaner Air
The World Bank has a plan to help make the air cleaner in a big area that includes parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
They want to reduce the bad stuff in the air, called PM2.5, to below 35 micrograms per cubic meter by the year 2035.
This is called '35 by 35'.
The plan has three main parts: reducing pollution at its source, protecting people's health, and making strong rules to keep the air clean.
They suggest using cleaner fuels for cooking, better technology for industries, electric vehicles, and better ways to manage farm waste.
The World Bank says that because air moves across borders, everyone needs to work together to make the air cleaner.
World Bank proposes '35 by 35' to reduce PM2.5 below 35 µg/m³ by 2035 in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills.
Solutions include reducing emissions at source, protecting health, and strengthening institutions.
Key interventions involve clean cooking fuels, electrifying industries, promoting electric vehicles, and better waste management.
Air pollution in the region comes from households, industries, vehicles, agriculture, and waste burning.
Coordinated action across sectors and jurisdictions is necessary due to cross-border air pollution.
- Who
- World Bank, governments of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan
- What
- Proposed solutions to reduce air pollution
- When
- Target year 2035
- Where
- Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills
- Why
- To reduce PM2.5 concentrations below 35 µg/m³
- Target Year
- 2035
- Target PM2.5 Level
- Below 35 µg/m³
- Region
- Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills
- Key Sources of Pollution
- Households, industries, vehicles, agriculture, waste burning
- Example Success
- China reduced PM2.5 by 30% in 5 years
- Core Areas of Solutions
- Abatement, protection, strong institutions
- Countries Involved
- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan