What is the role of air pollution modeling in policy making?
Policymakers in rapidly growing urban areas increasingly recognize that addressing air quality issues is an urgent priority. The developing countries should aspire to imitate the air pollution modeling systems, irrespective of the modeling limitations. Studies and dialogues should include properly identifying the sources of pollution to formulate rational and effective policies and make informed investment decisions related to air quality improvements. This paper discusses four questions: Why use models for policy analysis?; How does the world see the progress in air quality parameters?; How to utilize the air quality forecast models for policy support? and what are the common misconceptions in policy making via modeling? and presents links to "Air Quality Index" for cities across the world and schematics of forecast models.