National Activities - Asia Pacific

Reducing Exhaust Emissions from Autorickshaws in Dhaka, Bangladesh

This technical assistance project focused on achieving clean air objectives and reduced greenhouse gases through the replacement of imported gasoline and diesel with domestic natural gas, as well as improved maintenance of the vehicle fleet resulting in lower emissions and improved fuel economy. Funding was provided by the United Nations Development Programme, Environment Canada - in co-operation with the Canadian government's department of Natural Resources for the institutional strengthening project with the Bangladesh Ministry of Energy and their State Gas Company (RPGCL).

The focus of these efforts was on the gasoline-powered, two-stroke engine powered autorickshaws, in Dhaka. The project activities included technology transfer and associated training for the autorickshaws, workshops on general vehicle maintenance and the impact of vehicle operation on local air quality, provision of instrumentation to support vehicle maintenance activities and establishment of a National Centre of Excellence for technology verification in this sector.

Lubrizol Working with Fuel Manufacturer in China

The Lubrizol Corporation, a global advanced fluid technology provider with a portfolio of environmentally beneficial technologies, has entered into a project with the Maoming refinery of Sinopec, the largest national fuel manufacturer and distributor, to significantly reduce urban bus emissions in China. Lubrizol has developed PuriNOx, a diesel-water fuel emulsion which has been verified by the US EPA to reduce NOx emissions by up to 20% and PM by up to 56%. Several major bus companies in the cities of Guangzhou and Maoming are converting a portion of their urban bus fleets to PuriNOx as a demonstration of both pollution reduction and operability.

MOU signed between EMBARQ, Shell Foundation and Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, EMBARQ (The WRI Center for Transport and the Environment) and the Shell Foundation that creates the Shanghai Sustainable Transportation Partnership.

The overall goal is the creation of a public-private partnership to develop a flexible, integrated transportation system for Shanghai. EMBARQ, working closely with the appropriate Shanghai authorities, has two immediate tasks outlined in the MOU: to create a set of transport indicators for the city, and to conduct a pre-feasibility study leading to the design and development of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system. That system would support and integrate with Shanghai’s existing and planned Metro and light-rail transportation systems.

Additional information:

SINO-Italian Cooperation Activities on Clean Transports

In 2000, the Italian Ministry for Environment and Territory (IMET) launched a cooperation programme with the China State Environment Protection Administration (SEPA), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Beijing and Shanghai Municipalities, with the aim of introducing sustainable and low-emission transportation options for the municipalities, and later, other urban areas.

By the end of 2004, some 330 busses equipped with Italian high efficiency and low emissions natural gas engines were running in Beijing in an effort to reduce air pollution by replacing older diesel operated engines. The hope is to fit the majority of Beijing’s 10,000 buses with these low-emission engines by 2007, in time for the Olympics.

The production of “White Diesel”, an emulsion of water and diesel whose principal advantage is a significantly lower production of pollutant emissions (most notably of Particulates, CO and NOx), has been undertaken in Shanghai. In cooperation with Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau and the Public Transportation Bureau, white diesel is being tested on public buses circulating in the City. Developed by Cam Tecnologie S.r.l. (Camtec), this transition fuel, has the potential to offer an immediate solution to air pollution from urban transport, without need for modification of vehicle engines or logistics.

Within the agreement with the Chinese Ministry for Environment, a consortium between the Italian National Research Council and three Italian enterprises has completed the testing in Suzhou city of an innovative pilot air quality and urban traffic monitoring and managing system. This first Sino-Italian joint-venture aims at the standardization and certification in China of technologies and procedures, which might be used by Chinese municipal authorities to control air quality according to the European directives’ parameters. The Chinese Ministry for Environment expects the system to be put into practice in 18 big cities by 2008.

In 2005, an advanced laboratory for vehicles emission control and an Intelligent Transport System for urban traffic regulation, aiming at emission and consumption reduction will be realized in Beijing using Italian technologies. Under the agreement, the realization of a very low emission (hybrid or fuel cells) vehicles and motor vehicles fleets to be used in niche areas such as the Olympic village, public compounds and parks is expected. The Intelligent Transport System, designed by the Italian National Research Council in collaboration with CETMA Consortium, is entirely financed by the Ministry for Environment and Territory. This effort is being augmented by a signed agreement on hydrogen energy and its promotion in 2004, between the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory, the Lombardy Region, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and the Science and Technology commission of the Municipality of Shanghai.

November 2004 - UNEP article published in "Jakarta Post" Indonesia

UNEP submitted - and the "Jakarta Post" published - an article on the benefits of using unleaded petrol. The article was submitted as Indonesia has just taken the decision to enact a nation-wide ban on phase out leaded petrol. The article was well-received, and has been the subject of various radio interviews.

Please click here to see a PDF version of the article.

Developing Integrated Emission Strategies for Existing Land Transport" (DIESEL) Pilot Rrunning in Bangkok

The objective of the DIESEL Program is to develop a comprehensive understanding regarding in-use diesel vehicle emissions and control options to assist decision-making within the reality of developing country. The initial briefing meeting for this program was held in Bangkok on 16 June 2003. The Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) is executing this initiative, with assistance from the World Bank and other partners, under the auspices of CAI-Asia. The scope of work for this program includes development of city-specific databases relating to diesel emissions from in–use vehicles, analysis of policy and technical options to reduce these diesel emissions, and stakeholder evaluation, development of action plans and dissemination.

For more information, please visit the PCD website.

Meeting held in Hanoi in February 2004

The CAI-Asia Secretariat held a meeting with CAI-Asia members in Vietnam to discuss how different groups can contribute to the implementation of the CAI-Asia Business Plan 2004. Discussions were conducted with USAID/US-AEP Vietnam, Vietnam Register and a meeting was conducted with stakeholders from national and local government, universities, and development agencies (World Bank and Swisscontact).

Please click here for the minutes of the meeting.

National Workshop on Clean Fuels and Vehicles held in Hanoi in May 2004

The workshop is organized by the US-Asia Environmental Partnership in collaboration with Vietnam Register, Ministry of Transport. The main objective of the workshop is to share experiences and information between Vietnam and other countries/regions (including Europe, the United States, and Asian countries such as Thailand and China) on the regulatory and technical aspects of cleaner fuels and vehicle emission standards.

Click here for the Agenda of the Workshop.

Meetings and Events