While the problems of smog and air pollution in China have received a lot of attention, it’s sometimes less well reported that air quality in many Indian cities is at least as bad, if not worse. In fact, in a 2014 list of cities with the worst air pollution, six of the top 10 were in India.

That’s not great for the country’s tourism or international business reputation — not to mention its residents.

Luckily, there are promising signs that many of India’s business and political leaders want to change course. From large-scale tree planting initiatives to a boom in solar power, the fledgling shoots of a lower carbon development model are beginning to emerge. Now the international airport in Cochin, Kerala, is sending an unambiguous message to the world on this front, building a 12-megawatt (MW) solar power plant that makes it the first 100-percent solar-powered airport in the world. Read more.