Implementation of the Strategic Framework for Air Quality Management in Asia: The Way Forward

1. Implementation of the Strategic Framework for Air Quality Management in Asia: The Way Forward Dieter Schwela, Gary Haq and Wha-Jin Han Air Pollution in the Megacities of Asia Project Cornie Huizenga CAI Asia Secretariat, Manila, the Philippines Better Air Quality 2004, 6-8 December 2004, Agra

2. THE PROBLEM Urbanization Motorization Energy Consumption Different pollutant sources Lack of a Strategic Approach to AQM

3. AIR POLLUTION IN ASIA

4. VARIATION IN AQM CAPACITY Stage 5 – Excellent capacity.AQM is a routine activity; well established local institutional capacity; typically stable AQ levels and under WHO guidelines and NAAQS; strong emphasis on pollution prevention; AQ and emission standards are routinely enforced. Bangkok,Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Taipei Stage 4 – Mature capacity. AQM is increasingly comprehensive and well structured; external, donor involvement limited only to special areas; AQ levels approaching WHO guidelines as well as NAAQS; continuous AQ monitoring; development of medium-term AQM strategies; emerging emphasis on prevention of pollution; enforcement of standards becoming standard practice Busan, Shanghai Stage 3 – Evolving capacity. Systematic approach to AQM being put in place, often with still extensive foreign support; AQ monitoring increasingly through continuous monitoring; air pollution levels high but stable; more structured approach to enforcement emerging. Beijing, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Manila, Mumbai Stage 2 – Basic capacity. Initial legislation, standards and control measures; heavy dependence on foreign support; AQ levels high and still increasing; few, often manual type stations for monitoring; often very weak AQ regulations enforcement Dhaka, Hanoi, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Surabaya Stage 1 – Minimal capacity. No established AQM capacity; increasing air pollution levels; no comprehensive AQ legislation and standards; limited ad-hoc AQ monitoring and pollution control Colombo, Dhaka Source: Benchmarking Study Urban Air Quality Management and Practice in Major and Mega Cities of Asia – Stage 3 (draft)

5. Categorisation According to AQM Development Seoul Classification according to stages is based on AQ capability questionnaire, AQ levels and City profile.

6. CHALLENGES IN ASIAN CITIES: Policies • Lack or shortcomings of • Political will • Integrated environmental • planning • Legislation • Clean air implementation • plans • Air quality standards • Emission standards • Cost-benefit analysis • Market mechanisms

7. CHALLENGES IN ASIAN CITIES: Governance • Conflicts through • duplicated • responsibilities • Coordination amongst the • various stakeholders • Capacity and skills • Public awareness • Risk perception and risk • communication • Resources • Enforcement

8. CHALLENGES IN ASIAN CITIES: Implementation of AQM Need for • Emissions inventories • Source apportionment • Quality-assured input data • for dispersion models • Harmonization of monitoring • methodologies • Capacity enhancement • Centers of excellence • Long-term studies of health, • Environmental and economic impacts

9. NEED FOR A STRATEGIC APPROACH TO AQM • Flexible and adaptable to the • needsof different countries • and cities • Highlights components of a • rational and systematic AQMsystem • General and detailed recommendations on means and instruments to solve air pollution problems in urban areas • Harmonised approach on national and local levels.

10. GOALS OF THE SF FOR AQM • Improvement of indoor and • outdoor air quality • Prevention of deterioration in the countries of Asia • Sustainable human development • Protecting human and ecosystemhealth • Strengthen technical and institutional capabilities • Strengthen mechanisms for • co-operation on urban air pollution

11. COMPONENTS OF AQM IN THE SF • Air quality policies • Air quality governance • Emissions • Air quality modelling • Air quality monitoring • Health, environmental • & economic risk • assessment • 7. Financing of AQM

12. WORKING TOGETHER FOR BETTER AIR QUALITY IN ASIA Gaining national support for the adoption and implementation of the Strategic Framework Securing additional funding to assist city authorities to implement the SF Establishing a flexible mechanisms for the sharing of air quality data and best practice in the region Building upon and continuing the work of the international multi-agency effort to improve air quality

13. INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) World Health Organization (WHO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) United Nations ECOSOC Division for Sustainable Development (DSD) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

14. USEFULNESS AND APPLICABILITY OF THE SF IN CITIES IN ASIA • Criteria: • Dependability – reliability of approach • Permanence – long-term basis approach • Adaptability to economic growth - problems • Equity – stakeholder distribution • Economy – low costs for society • Political attractiveness – approach recommendable • Minimal interference with stakeholder decisions – scope of choices • Appropriateness of applied tactical instruments – according to state-of-science • Quality assurance/quality control – known quality of data Evaluation of approaches in Asian cities in AQM

15. CONCLUSIONS • There is a wide variation in the AQM capacity of Asian cities • The SF can provide a key reference framework for Asian cities that wish to implement effective urban AQM • The SF promotes a regional harmonised and comprehensive approach to AQM that is specific to the needs of Asian countries • Through international organizationsthe SF can be brought to the attention of Ministries • City studies can help to underline the usefulness of the SF