A study by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability has revealed how coal emissions significantly impact agricultural crop production in India, particularly rice and wheat. These crops, vital for food security, suffer yield losses due to air pollution, primarily from coal-based power generation.

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• Coal emissions account for 30-40% of anthropogenic Nitrous Oxide (NO) emissions in India.
• The study focuses on the impact of coal-generated Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on crop productivity.
• Rice and wheat, India’s staple crops, suffer significant yield losses due to coal pollution.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation reports that coal will remain India’s primary electricity source.
• Coal emissions affect crop yields even 100 km away from power plants.
• In areas like West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, coal emissions cause yield losses exceeding 10% annually.
• This loss is equivalent to six years of average annual yield growth for both rice and wheat between 2011-2020.
• NO2 from coal emissions disrupts plant enzyme mechanisms and contributes to ozone and particulate matter formation, both harmful to crops.
• Ozone and particulate matter reduce agricultural yields, with global relative yield losses of 7-12% for wheat and 3-4% for rice.
• Reducing coal emissions could boost rice production by $420 million and wheat production by $400 million annually.