In February 2025, American billionaire and biotech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson abruptly left a high-profile interview in Bengaluru. His exit was not prompted by a difficult question but by the air quality in the room. The indoor Air Quality Index had climbed to 130, with PM2.5 levels reaching 75 µg/m³—the equivalent of smoking 3.4 cigarettes daily. For Johnson, the pollution was unbearable. However, for millions of Indians, it was nothing unusual—just another day of inhaling air that gradually damages their health, a reality we are forced to endure. Johnson later remarked, “It has been so normalised in India that no one even notices anymore despite the science of its negative effects being well known.”
Things that once surprised outsiders have become our everyday reality. We begin our day breathing toxic air while sending our children to school wearing masks and observing pollution charts hitting dangerous levels every winter. We know the dangers, yet the outrage fades when the smog lifts. For years, the blame has fallen on familiar culprits—vehicles, industries and agricultural burning.
While all of these contribute, an underexplored factor is making things worse: La Niña, a global climate phenomenon which cools the Pacific Ocean, disrupting India’s weather. During the La Niña period, winter winds slow down, humidity rises, and pollutants stay trapped near the ground, turning cities into gas chambers.
The impact of La Niña on India’s air pollution is often overlooked. In December 2024, as La Niña developed, Delhi faced severe smog, worsening its already high winter pollution levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 600 at various locations, exceeding the safety limits by more than twelve times. Emergency hospital visits for respiratory distress rose by 50%, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Many patients sought emergency care at hospitals suffering from difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and irritation in their eyes. A sudden surge in demand for air purifiers occurred, while people formed long lines to purchase oxygen cylinders, allowing them to breathe easier in their homes. But the crisis wasn’t limited to Delhi. Mumbai, a city that rarely suffers prolonged smog, experienced its worst pollution levels in years during this period. During the La Niña winter of 2022-23, the coastal breeze, which usually clears pollutants, changed direction and allowed pollutants to linger over the city for weeks. The AQI remained between 300-400, and citizens reported a spike in breathing difficulties and eye infections. Similar patterns emerged in Kolkata, Lucknow and Patna, proving that air pollution is not just a Delhi problem but a nationwide crisis.
The worst part about India’s air crisis is that its actual cost isn’t visible immediately. It doesn’t kill like a bomb or a flood. Instead, it seeps into the lungs, damages organs over time and shortens lifespans in ways people don’t always notice. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), air pollution is now the second biggest killer in India, after high blood pressure, contributing to 1.7 million premature deaths every year. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has linked prolonged PM2.5 exposure to rising cases of lung cancer, strokes and heart disease. More alarmingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that children born today in polluted Indian cities will have a shorter life expectancy simply because of the air they breathe.
India is stuck in a cycle of discussion without real action. Rather than finding long-term, sustainable solutions, the authorities resort to short-term measures like odd-even (traffic rules) and temporary breaks from construction. Though such measures might provide temporary relief, they do not address the root causes of air pollution. The problem is evident—recent reports indicate that 83 out of the 100 most polluted cities globally are in India, highlighting the severity of the situation and demands for real change. Some think La Niña is just a part of the natural weather cycle, and pollution would happen anyway. While that is correct, ignoring its effects is a mistake. La Niña makes air quality worse by slowing down wind, increasing humidity, and keeping pollutants closer to the ground for longer. That worsens pollution in already polluted cities, leading to thicker and longer-lasting smog. Understanding this connection helps with better urban planning. Just as we predict monsoons and storms, we must also track La Niña’s impact on air quality and take action to reduce pollution before it becomes hazardous.
What Needs to Change? India can no longer afford to normalise toxic air. The first thing to do is to acknowledge that air pollution is not merely an environmental concern but a new national health emergency. We must treat it with the same urgency as a pandemic or a natural disaster.
Current attempts to address this have failed to produce meaningful or sustainable results. Unless they act decisively, the cycle will repeat, and millions will have to live in more polluted air. One important step is setting up a national air quality forecasting system to predict pollution spikes caused by La Niña and other climate patterns. If we can anticipate bad air weeks in advance, early interventions—such as stricter emission controls, staggered industrial activity and public health advisories—can be implemented before pollution peaks.
Next, policy changes must focus on long-term reforms, not temporary fixes. Investing in electric vehicles, expanding public transportation and transitioning to renewable energy sources are essential. Industrial emissions and construction dust must be regulated more strictly. Solutions like large-scale air filtration systems and urban afforestation projects should move beyond conversations and be brought to life through real action. China’s aggressive pollution control measures offer a model India can learn from—strict air quality targets, real-time monitoring, and robust enforcement have helped Beijing significantly reduce pollution levels in the past decade. Public awareness must increase as well. Clean air is a fundamental right, not a luxury reserved for those who can afford air purifiers. People should push policymakers to take robust action rather than accepting pollution as an inevitable part of life. Without widespread pressure, the political will to enforce tough but necessary reforms will remain weak.
In conclusion, Bryan Johnson’s decision to walk out of an interview was not just about personal discomfort—it was a mirror reflecting India’s air crisis. If a visitor could not tolerate the air for an hour, what about the millions of Indians who endure it daily? The key question now is: How many more need to get sick? How many more children must grow up with compromised lungs? How many headlines should be written until action is taken?
The time for debate is over. We either fight for clean air or accept a future where simply being able to breathe—to do so freely—becomes a privilege that not everyone will have.
