Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia

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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Grim prognosis Asian cities move ahead to act
Anumita Roychowdhury Better Air Quality Hong
Kong December 16-18, 2002
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Economic growth and motorisation put many Asian
cities on a toxic spiral Shanghai Estimated
number of excess COPD due to SPM in 1990 --
173,500. Excess chronic bronchitis cases in 1999
-- 30,800. (SEOHI study) Taipei,China 29 percent
increase in asthma due to air pollution. (TN Wang
et al) Hong Kong Respiratory complaints
increased among school children aged 8-12 as air
pollution increased. (TS Yu et al)
New Delhi A 100 ?g/m3 increase in TSP may lead
to loss of about 51,403 life years or about
1,385 lives a year. (World Bank 1997) Mumbai
Air pollution causes 2800 excess deaths, 60
million respiratory symptom days, and 19 million
restricted activity days. (World Bank 1997)
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Metro Manila The total estimated damage to
health was valued at PhP300-450 million during
1994.
Bangkok Estimated financial loss 131 Thai Baht
per family per month. Reduction of 20?g/m3 in
annual average PM10 levels can save 65 -175
billion Thai Baht - amounts to 2 of GNP
Jakarta Annual health cost of particulates and
lead valued at 2.16 billion 2 of GNP.
Cost of Inaction
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Clean Air targets still elusive in Asia

• Many Asian countries have adopted WHO guidelines
  as the basis of AQM
• But time bound air quality targets are not set to
  meet those guidelines
• Abatement plans are not designed to meet local
  air quality demands
• Weak air quality surveillance impedes informed
  decision making

Haze in Delhi
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia

• Limited numbers of pollutants monitored
• Inadequate frequency of monitoring
• Dubious data quality due to manual monitoring
• Inappropriately designed local monitoring
  networks
• Delayed reporting of air quality data
• Absence of health alert

Weak monitoring hampers risk assessment
Air quality monitoring station, Delhi
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Asia in grip of deadly particles Critical
pollutants to drive action agenda
WHO (1992) Standards for Annual SPM concentrations
Source ADB
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Exploding the myth of safe air Particulates and
other air toxins like benzene can be lethal even
in small doses WHO mandates no safe level WHO
recommends not only eliminating extreme cases of
high pollution but decreasing average exposure
levels among all.
Public health policy still ignores the link
between air pollution and health
How far tiny particles penetrate your lungs
Ultrafine particles 0.65 microns Magnified
200,000 times
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Where is pollution coming from? Vehicles?
Industry? Power plants? Generator sets? Open
burning? Do not know accurately. Inventories too
inadequate Concern over growing number of
vehicles and industrial sources is driving action
in Asia
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Killer at home From health perspective what
matters is total exposure Outdoor and indoor
pollution would require urgent but different
abatement strategies
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Aerial Raids As scientists probe the complex
science of aerosols the larger picture of
floating particles, their impact on health,
climate patterns, agricultural productivity is
only beginning to emerge Dealing with
trans-boundary pollution will be both technically
and politically complex
Source NASA, INDOEX
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Act even as we are trying to know more Vehicular
pollution a complex challenge There is some
action Tighter norms, better fuel quality,
switching to alternative fuels, improved IM for
in-use vehicles.. Pollution will continue to
overtake us without a leapfrogging strategy on
clean vehicles and fuels Or without transport
strategies to control vehicle numbers and traffic
mayhem Innovate to meet the unique Asian
technology challenges
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Asia is trying out ways to deal with air
pollution from industries and power
plants Environmental audits Emissions trading
schemes Relocation of industry Permit
system Emissions based tax Some countries have
reported success in achieving substantial
reduction in emissions Trend towards stronger
national laws on pollution control But weak
enforcement and Institutions make them
ineffectual
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Holding hands to find the way ahead
Uniqueness of the regional forum Allows
flexibility in approaches and strategies to meet
clean air goals Each city has a place to decide
its priorities and action agenda Collective
action to garner regional strength in many key
common areas of concern
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
Preparing for interface between global and
regional initiatives Key regional and global
actors and investors have initiated partnership
networks to improve efficiency in investments,
maximise efforts, avoid duplication Important to
bring in knowledge and technical know-how to
build capacity in Asia The interface must not
overshadow regional priorities and investment
decisions Focus to remain on building capacity to
undertake effective AQM so that cities can decide
their priority targets and actions
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Challenges to Air Quality Management in Asia
AQM is an issue of governance and
accountability Institutions need to be stronger
and transparent to take informed
decision Industry to demonstrate proactiveness in
phasing in advanced technologies and clean
fuels Experience shows technology change and AQM
activities accelerate when strong and informed
civil society creates demand for cleaner air.