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Air quality, especially the concentrations of particulate matter in
major Asian cities, is of serious concern. More than 500 000 people
die every year from diseases related to air pollution (WHO 2003). In
the next few years, governments in the majority of countries in the
region intend to address air pollution as their top priority. Measures
have been intensified at all levels and include tougher new emission
standards aimed at reducing suspended particulate matter, regulations
to control air pollution at construction sites, and the introduction
of alternative motor vehicle fuel, such as low sulphur diesel, ethanol
blended petrol and compressed natural gas (CNG) (Enhesa 2003, CSE 2003).
Although measures vary from country to country, most have a clear focus
on the motor vehicle sector.
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Air pollution is a major environmental issue, particularly
in Asian cities, and related diseases kill more than half
a million people each year.
Source: Still Pictures |
Transboundary air pollution is a concern in Asia, affecting many
countries in the region. Successful initiatives undertaken in
2003 to tackle transboundary air pollution included:
 the
ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Southeast Asia
(Box 3);
a
regional programme on establishing a dust and sand storm monitoring
and early warning system in Northeast Asia initiated by the Asian
Development Bank, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific, the Asia office of the UNCCD and UNEP, together
with governments of China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Mongolia;
and
a capacity-building programme, undertaken under Phase II of the
Male Declaration, which aims to build national capacities to address
issues of transboundary air pollution in South Asia. In-country
training programmes, with monitoring equipment, have been provided
to six participating countries, namely Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka,
Maldives, Iran and Bangladesh (UNEP RRC.AP 2003b).
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Box
3: Agreement on transboundary haze pollution entered into
force |
The 2002 Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
entered into force in November 2003. The agreement,
signed by the 10 member countries of ASEAN, is the first
such regional arrangement in the world that binds a
group of contiguous states to tackle transboundary haze
pollution resulting from land and forest fires. It contains
provisions on monitoring, assessment and prevention
of transboundary haze pollution, technical cooperation
and scientific research, mechanisms for coordination
and communication, and simplified customs and immigration
procedures for disaster relief. It also provides for
the establishment of an ASEAN Coordinating Centre for
Transboundary Haze Pollution Control. The agreement
may serve as a model for dealing with other transboundary
issues.
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| Source: ASEAN 2003 |
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