Air Quality Life Index
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) converts air pollution concentrations into their impact on life expectancy. Through the AQLI’s hyper-local data, users anywhere on Earth can zoom into their district and see how much longer they would live if policies were to reduce pollution to meet the World Health Organization’s guideline, a national standard, or a user-defined target. Based on research by EPIC’s Director Michael Greenstone that for the first time showed the causal link between air pollution and life expectancy, the AQLI shows not just the damage air pollution inflicts but also the benefits of air quality regulations.
The AQLI has been recognized in The New York Times as the “gold standard on global air quality research” and by Fast Company as a “World Changing Idea.” Having reached more than 1.1 billion people in at least 20 languages through its extensive media coverage, the AQLI is having an impact around the world. Indian Members of Parliament have repeatedly used the AQLI to justify changes to the Indian Air Act; AQLI data was used in a landmark Indonesian court ruling that found Jakarta’s government needed to do more to protect its people; and, Pakistan’s former environment minister used the AQLI to advocate for carrying out the country’s National Clean Air Policy. International organizations and their leaders have also used the Index to support calls for improvements in air quality, including the World Health Organization, World Bank, UN Environment Program and World Economic Forum.