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CSD-14/15
Air Pollution/Atmosphere |
Climate Change |
Energy for Sustainable Development | Industrial Development
Air Pollution/Atmosphere
Indoor air pollution
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
|
Denmark |
Nepal Energy Sector Assistance
Programme (ESAP) |
Denmark has since 1999 supported the Alternative Energy
Promotion Centre (AEPC) under the Ministry of Science and
Technology in Nepal. The support is focused on three main areas:
1) increased access to electricity produced from renewable
energy sources (hydro and solar) to the rural population; 2)
increased use of improved cooking stoves among the rural
population and 3) capacity development of the Centre itself.
Over the years more than 100,000 households have benefited from
the improved cooking stoves-resulting in improved health among
women and small children due to significantly less smoke in the
kitchens. More than 40,000 households have been equipped with
solar home systems by the private sector. While AEPC/ESAP
supports the installation through a subsidy system, the
industrial household pays the majority of the investment.
Similar benefits are experienced by 3000 households in
installation and financing of micro hydro schemes based on a
village approach. |
|
Finland |
Indoor Climate 2002 – Education and
information campaign |
The campaign was designed to raise consumer awareness of the
health effects of the indoor climate and possibilities for
improving it, and to increase knowledge and know-how of building
owners and key management personnel, construction professionals,
health care professionals on indoor climate issues. The
programme also supplied information and tools for guidance and
control of indoor climate to municipal decision makers and
authorities. The campaign achieved many positive results in
raising interest and awareness of both the professionals
concerned and the consumers. |
| United States of America |
Integrated
Program Models for Cleaner Cooking in Bangladesh and Peru
|
This program is directly reducing
exposure to indoor air pollution in more than 1,100 households
in Bangladesh and Peru by emphasizing the use of improved cook
stoves and practices using an integrated approach. Program
design will build upon past stove programs by incorporating
social marketing and behavior change campaigns with market
development (business development, microfinance, consumer
surveys, demonstrations) and technical innovation (improved
stoves, alternative fuels) to develop scalable program models.
Market and indoor air indicators will be measured before and
after the programs to determine program impacts. |
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Phasing out
leaded gasoline
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
| United States of America
|
Phaseout of
Leaded Gasoline in Sub-Saharan Africa (Partnership for Clean
Fuels and Vehicles) |
The Partnership for
Clean Fuels and Vehicles has supported stakeholder groups in
developing and implementing action plans for lead phase-out in
Sub-Saharan Africa. These action plans include national-level
workshops, public outreach and awareness raising, and sharing
information on health impacts, vehicle impacts, and relevant
technical and financial issues. By the end of 2005, 48 of the 49
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa will phase lead out of gasoline,
affecting 733 million people. |
|
Indonesian Lead Information Center
(Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles) |
EPA, USAID, and other
partners have supported blood lead level testing efforts in two
cities in Indonesia; data from these tests indicates that a
significant number of children tested have blood lead levels
higher than the World Health Organization standards. EPA has
helped the Joint Committee for Leaded Gasoline Phase Out (an
Indonesian NGO) open a Lead Information Center that can collect
and disseminate information on lead contamination as well as
specific information on lead issues in Indonesia. This
initiative has also provided Indonesian community activists with
training on developing effective public health awareness
campaigns about lead contamination, which should increase
support for nation-wide lead phase out in Indonesia.
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Reducing health risks from air
pollutants
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
|
European Commission |
Integrated Air Pollution Policy |
This policy addresses environmental and health problems through
integrated management of air pollution and cost-effective
measures. |
|
Canada |
Acid Rain Case Study |
The Canadian Acid Rain Programme helps to protect ecosystems
from damage due to acidification and to enable recovery of
ecosystem structure and function affected by acid deposition.
Canada is currently addressing the long term problem of
acidification by working in its affected eastern region
aggressively to reduce domestic emissions, carry out scientific
monitoring and reporting and build awareness in the country to
save lakes and forests from acid deposition. It is also trying
to prevent the same problems from occurring in western and
northern regions of the country. |
|
Japan |
Reduction of Dioxin Levels resulting from business activities in
Japan |
The main objective was to reduce total emission of dioxins (PCDDs,
PCDFs and Co-planner PCBs) by approximately 90% of the base year
of 1997. Approximately 95% of the estimated reduction was
achieved by plan completion in 2003. |
|
Voluntary Management Plan on Hazardous Air Pollutants |
The project, which was completed in 2003, achieved approximately
40% reduction of hazardous air pollutants in its first phase and
57% in its second phase, both exceeding the targets. Along with
this, atmospheric concentration of Hazardous Air Pollutants has
been largely improved.
|
|
United States of America |
BenMAP International – Model to Estimate
Health Benefits of Air Quality Improvements |
BenMAP international is a PC-based GIS program that estimates
the health benefits associated with air quality changes and the
economic value of these benefits. This model is based on USEPA’s
BenMAP model for domestic applications, which has proven to be a
remarkable tool in helping decision-makers understand the health
and economic implications of possible air pollution control
policies. Since development of BenMAP-international, EPA has
participated in a number of training/collaboration initiatives
in Asia and Central America, including week-long training
sessions for in-country scientific teams followed by application
of BenMAP-international to specific case studies within those
countries. |
|
European Commission |
The Auto Oil Programme |
The objective of the Programme is to meet air quality objectives
and to reduce the effects of urban air pollution on human
health. It underpins a number of EU directives on fuel quality
and performance standards for vehicles. |
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Policies and programmes to address air pollution from
transportation sources
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
|
Canada |
Vehicles, Engines and Fuels Case Study |
Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in Canada.
Under the 10-year Federal Agenda for Cleaner Vehicles, Engines
and Fuels, two kinds of initiatives are undertaken: a) Emission
Initiatives through regulations under the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act and emission control programs to reduce
transportation emissions; and b) Clean Fuel Initiatives,
including a plan of action with several measures to protect the
health and environment of Canadians by improving the quality of
diesel fuel and, for example, by reducing the level of sulphur
by 2006 in on-road diesel fuel used by trucks and buses. |
| Finland |
Environmental guidelines for transport
sector till 2010
|
This programme,
covering years 2005-2010, defines a programme to reduce
transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, other exhaust and
noise emissions, and other environmental and health problems
caused by transport. It also aims at improving air quality and
developing an ecologically sustainable transport system. The
programme establishes a follow-up mechanism, including
indicators. |
| Mexico |
Low sulfur and vehicle emissions standards |
Mexico is currently
setting new fuel quality and vehicle standards to reduce the
sulfur content in gasoline and diesel and to improve emissions
from both new and in-use vehicles. The fuel specifications
standards have been established by the committee and will be
submitted for public review shortly. The combination of low
sulfur fuels and emissions standards will reduce emissions of
air pollutants, and therefore health impacts from poor air
quality in Mexico, with estimated present benefits of over 8.2
billion dollars in Mexico City alone. |
|
Inspection/Maintenance Programmes for Gasoline Vehicles as a
Tool for Achieving more Stringent Emission Standards |
In 1997, Mexican
emission standards for gasoline light duty vehicles lagged more
than ten years behind the standards in the US. Mexican
environmental authorities were interested in closing the gap
between US and Mexican emission standards. They introduced new
and already available technologies in Mexico and made the
inspection/maintenance test mandatory for all new and used
automobiles in the Mexican City Metropolitan Area every six
months. As a result, all new 1999 automobiles met TIER 1
emission specifications and the standard was finally published
in 2001. |
| Thailand |
R&D programme in the
area of air quality management: Bangkok Metropolitan Area |
The programme helped
build up knowledge and information for air quality management.
Results to date include a draft regulation on national ambient
air quality, a diesel pollution reduction strategy, and a
training module for maintenance of Bangkok’s public buses. |
| United Kingdom |
The Local Transport Strategy |
The objective of the
Strategy is to achieve an efficient, equitable and safe
transport system by reducing traffic on the roads and supporting
air quality targets. The Initiative’s main achievements include
promoting healthy lifestyles and a greater understanding and
awareness of the impacts of transport, environmental innovation
and an integrated policy framework. |
| United States of
America |
Heavy-Duty Diesel Retrofit Demonstration
Project in Mexico City (Partnership for Clean Fuels and
Vehicles) |
Particulate emissions
can be reduced by as much as 90% in Mexico City buses if
vehicles and fuels are addressed simultaneously. The Mexico City
diesel retrofit demonstration project has successfully installed
two types of emission control devices on 20 city buses and was
designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of available emissions
control technologies and low-sulfur fuel on reducing emissions
from existing diesel buses now on the road in Mexico City
Numerous partners, including the Partnership for Clean Fuels and
Vehicles, are coordinating efforts to determine the best means
by which to reduce particulate emissions from existing diesel
vehicles. |
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Policies and programmes to address air pollution from other
major
point sources
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
|
Finland |
Air Pollution Control Programme 2010 |
The national programme, which was approved in 2002, set maximum
annual limits for emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
ammonia and volatile organic compounds, which must not be
exceeded after 2010. It contains measures to reduce emissions
from energy production, transport, agriculture and industry, and
also sets out ways to curb emissions from machinery, leisure
boats and the small-scale combustion of wood. The programme is
largely based on existing and previously planned measures, and
EU legislation soon due to come into effect. Monitoring of
programme implementation is considered particularly important.
|
|
Energy taxes on CO2 emissions |
Finland’s CO2 tax on fossil fuels has helped reduce its CO2
emissions by an amount 7% less than estimated without the energy
tax increase. Half of this reduction (2 million tones) resulted
from changes in the end use of the energy, i.e., from the
reduced consumption of traffic fuels, industrial restructuring
and the associated lowering in energy demand. The other half was
estimated to have come from converting to fuels with less carbon
dioxide in the production of electricity and heating. |
| Mexico |
Externalities of Electricity Generation in
Mexico |
This two-year project began in 2002 to estimate
the environmental externalities of thermal power plans in order
to generate information on the revision of emission standards
and programmes to control emissions of the energy sector.
Through the project, Mexico estimated environmental
externalities of the biggest 13 thermal power plants in the
order of 465 million dollars annually using the SIMPACTS Model
of the IAEA. The external cost is in the order of 0.50
cents/kWh. Results demonstrate the need to control emissions in
critical zones. The policy goal is to reduce air pollution in
Mexico, especially Atmosphere. |
| Air quality improvement programmes |
Air quality improvement programmes are a
response to air quality deterioration in major metropolitan or
industrial areas of Mexico. Typically, these areas have heavy
industries, including power generation or oil refineries,
together with old vehicle fleets, making necessary the
introduction of integral programmes for pollution abatement and
control. Key objectives include: (1) introduction of low sulfur
fuels for cleaner transportation; (2) introduction of massive
public transportation systems (urban and inter-urban); (3)
reduction of emissions from power plants and refinery industry;
and (4) integration of urban planning, transport and
environmental policies. |
| Qatar |
Flare Mitigation Programme
|
The Programme is directed toward reducing the
large quantity of gas that is flared as a result of oil
production and oil and gas processing, thereby reducing air
pollution as well. |
| Fuel Gas Sweetening Programme
|
The objectives of this ten-year programme (to
2010) are to reduce the level of SOx in ambient air; to produce
elemental sulphur for marketing purposes; and to maintain the
integrity of power generation equipment. |
| Sweden |
Incentive to achieve national air quality
objectives |
The Swedish Parliament adopted environmental
quality objectives relating to 15 areas with a view to
establishing an ecologically sustainable country in the
long-term. Targets for 14 of the 15 areas are set at 2020; for
climate, the target is 2050. All sectors are obliged to work
according to the objectives. With respect to air quality, a
number of steps have been taken to reduce emissions, e.g.,
expansion of district heating in urban areas, introduction of
fees on emissions of nitrogen oxides for energy production in
combustion plants and stricter requirements on emissions from
industrial activities. |
| Thailand |
|
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| Air Pollution Management in Mae Moh
|
The main objectives of this programme are to
reduce SO2 in the ground at Mae Moh and as well as SO2 emissions
from the power plant. The programme, which ended in 2002, was
successful in meeting the standards for SO2 concentrations. |
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R&D in cleaner fuels and air pollution abatement
technologies
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
|
Sweden |
Biofuels Health and Environment Programme
|
This programme was able to demonstrate the benefits of using
modern low emission type wood stoves or wood pellet burners as
compared to the currently used traditional wood boilers. Another
important contribution is the characterization of biofuel
emissions and development of source specific characteristics. |
| Thailand |
R&D programme in the area of air quality
management: Bangkok Metropolitan Area |
The programme helped build up knowledge and
information for air quality management. Results to date include a
draft regulation on national ambient air quality, a diesel
pollution reduction strategy, and a training module for
maintenance of Bangkok’s public buses. |
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Measures addressing transboundary air pollution
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
| Belgium |
National
Emission Ceilings (NEC) from European Directive 2001/81/EG
programme for Flanders
|
The main objectives of the NEC
directive are to meet the emission ceilings from directive
2001/81/EG, to investigate the best way to implement these
ceilings and to establish a programme for reporting to the
European Commission. The lead institution is the Flemish
Environmental Administration (AMINAL)-section on air policy. A
first report was submitted to the European Commission at the end
of 2003 and since then, new studies and other information (on,
e.g., emission data) became available. That information will be
integrated iton the reviewed NEC-programme. The programme report
expected by the end of 2005 will include a list of options for
ensuring that the ceilings will be met. |
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Control measures derived from the Montreal
Protocol
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
| Australia |
National
Halon Management and Banking Program |
This project, which is being
implemented in India, is modelled on Australia’s own domestic
approach. A halon banking system is used to recover, recycle,
reclaim and store non-essential halon for critical uses, thereby
progressively reducing dependence on long-term halon imports for
key sectors. This project is an integral component of a Halon
Phaseout Strategy prepared by India's Defence Institute of Fire
Research, in recognition of halon’s status as the most
aggressive ozone depleting substance controlled under the
Montreal Protocol. |
| Ozone
Protection |
Through a series of measures,
Australia has met or exceeded all phase-out targets set through
the Montreal Protocol. Its use of HCFCs will be 66% less than
provided by under the Montreal Protocol through the phase-out
period up to 2015. Australia operates an active program to
destroy used or surplus ozone depleting substances and has
destroyed more of these substances than any other country.
Australia’s new legislation controlling the use of synthetic
greenhouse gases will lead to emission reductions of nearly six
million tonnes of carbon dioxide, or one per cent of 1990 levels
in 2010. |
| Bahamas |
Terminal
Phaseout Management Plan |
This programme, which started in
2001, has the objective to reduce and eventually eliminate the
importation of CFCs. The results achieved so far include annual
reduction in CFC imports, increased public awareness and pending
regulations. |
| Denmark |
Danish
Refrigeration Installer Environmental Scheme - Montreal Protocol |
Since 1992, the Danish Refrigeration Installer’s Environmental
Scheme (KMO scheme) has offered the authorities free help in
connection with collection and disposal of refrigerant waste
that the normal waste system is unable to deal with
satisfactorily. Actors in the Danish refrigeration sector
established the KMO scheme on their own initiative following the
Danish Government’s ratification of the Montreal Protocol in
1992. Since the scheme is the first of its kind, it has led to
discussion of the different methods that can be used for
collecting and disposing of waste that requires special product
knowledge. The KMO scheme will therefore be important for the
final decision about who is to deal with the problematic waste
and the conditions they should be subject to. |
| India |
National
Halon Management and Banking Program |
With support from Australia, this
project introduces a halon banking system to recover, recycle,
reclaim and store non-essential halon for critical uses, thereby
progressively reducing dependence on long-term halon imports for
key sectors. This project is an integral component of a Halon
Phaseout Strategy prepared by India's Defence Institute of Fire
Research, in recognition of halon’s status as the most
aggressive ozone depleting substance controlled under the
Montreal Protocol. |
| Japan |
Development and spread of methyl
bromide alternative technology
|
The main objective of the initiative
was to register alternative pesticides for crops.
|
| Mexico |
Phase out of CFCs Production in
Mexico. |
This three-year project, which began
in 2003, has ended Mexico’s production of Clorofluorocarbons
(CFCs). As a result, Mexico has fulfilled its commitments under
the Montreal Protocol, reaching a reduction of a 12% in world
production of CFC, and 60% in production at the continental
level. The country is four years ahead of the target set by the
Montreal Protocol. Mexico has implemented a system of recovery,
recycling and final treatment of CFCs. Of particular note,
Mexico closed CFC production at its plan of Quinobásicos,
located in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, in September 2005. This action
helped to eliminate the use of CFCs not only in Mexico but also
in all of Latin America and other regions of the world. Mexico
has phased out around 90% of CFC consumption in domestic and
commercial refrigerators, air conditioning, aerosols, solvents
and polyurethane foams; introduced alternative propellants in
aerosols in 1990; and eliminated the use of CFCs in the goal
production sector. It has also established a monitoring system
for the import and export of ozone depleting substances. |
| Thailand |
Commercial Refrigerator Terminal
Umbrella Project |
The main objective of this programme
was to phase out the use of CFCs in commercial refrigerators by
substituting CFC-12 with HFC-134a and substituting CFC-11 with
HFC-141b. Reduction of the use of CFC-11 and CFC-12 to 173 tons
was achieved as the result of the programme. |
| The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia |
Refrigeration Management Plan |
This project is one of the
activities undertaken by the Macedonian Government towards
elimination of the substances that deplete the ozone layer. The
Plan led to training of the service technicians, customs
officers and providing equipment for identification and control
of ozone depleting substances on border check-points. Also
through the Plan, three refrigerant recycling centres were fully
equipped with facilities for recovery and recycling. |
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Monitoring of atmospheric conditions
|
Country |
Initiative |
Summary Description |
| Bahrain |
Air Quality Monitoring Programme
|
This programme aims to monitor atmospheric
pollutants from different geographical locations and to generate
ambient air quality reports. The data gathered is used in
research and trend evaluation, as well as in transportation
planning and development. |
| Czech Republic |
Air Quality Improvement
Programme |
Czech legislation set up ambient air quality
standards to be met throughout the country by regional and local
authorities in order to attain Air Quality Limit Values (AQLV).
Under this programme, instructional material has been prepared
to promote better programmatic quality and efficiency and to
improve ambient air quality especially in problematic regions. |
| Mexico |
Mexico National Emissions Inventory |
The first-ever National Emissions Inventory for
Mexico to be completed in 2006 will include information on NO2,
SO2, VOC, CO, PM10, PM2.5, and NH3 emissions for the entire
country (at the municipality level) for the base year 1999. The
source types include all sources of air pollution: point,
non-point (area), on-road mobile, non-road mobile, and natural
sources. A series of workshops and training sessions were held
in the early stages of the project to build capacity at a
national level. |
| Mexico National Emissions System (SINE: Sistema
Nacional de Emisiones) |
Emissions data in Mexico are dispersed. Several
institutions use, update, receive and store information related
to emissions from different sources. This project is intended to
bring together information from the National Emissions
Inventory, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and the Mexico
Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry. The system is also
planned to allow public access to the information. |
| Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) |
The PRTR is an annual data base that provides
information of pollutant releases and transfers to air, land and
water. This information provides elements for decision making
regarding environmental legislation, programmes, and compliance
to international agreements. The key objectives of this
initiative are to encourage reductions of pollutant releases and
transfer from industrial activities at the national level and to
foster the use of PRTRs and PRTR data by citizens, communities,
academia, industry, government and other interested parties. |
| South Africa |
South Durban Basin Multi-point Plan |
The plan is aimed at developing a comprehensive
air quality monitoring system in the basin, a health study and
air quality management plan, all of which would help inform the
planning and development approval process and resolve some of
the air quality problems in the area. Also included in the
objectives revision of national sulphur dioxide (SO2)
guidelines, identifying gaps and improvement of ambient and
source emission monitoring of these substances. An emerging
focus in building capacity in this area is to improve
environmental quality through cleaner production methods to
reduce emissions and costs and improve environmental
performance. |
| Sweden |
Models for dispersion of air pollution
|
This programme has introduced a more
sophisticated tool for assessing air quality for use by local
authorities. This simple internet-based model allows for entry
of local data as well as regional and national data on air
pollution, thereby providing an opportunity for better modeling
at the local scale. |
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