The United Nations Environment Programme - Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) and the League of Arab States (LAS) hosted a two day regional forum titled "Middle East Cleaner Fuels & Vehicles for Clean Air Policy Forum".

The participants, made up of representatives of the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, and international organizations held a series of discussions on the current status of clean fuels and vehicles in their respective countries, the main challenges and opportunities, and the key strategies needed to move the agenda forward in terms of clean fuels and vehicles in the region to achieve the cleaner air, that participants agreed, was needed for the region.

The strategies proposed for the region included the provision of information and data to present to decision-makers on costs of health impacts from poor quality fuels and vehicles. Also proposed was the development, implementation, compliance and enforcement of relevant legislations to support the use of cleaner fuels and vehicles for clean air, and the related capacity building.

In addition, participants recommended development of an information exchange network amongst stakeholders in the region, and linking with other networks across the globe, also embracing expertise of UNEP, Asian Clean Fuels Association and USEPA

The Summary Statement for the Meeting identified: (See Report).

1. The need for a high-level political decision
2. The need for the development of legislation
3. The need for a Time-Bound Plan of Action (the Road Map)

To action these, the primary action-oriented recommendation of the meeting is the development of an Ad-hoc Working Group on Clean Fuels and Vehicles in the Arab Region, to prepare a detailed Road Map for the region based on an assessment of the current situation and the needs of the countries, sub-regions and region as a whole. This Road Map is to be submitted to the countries for review and comment, and then submitted for final approval.

The Forum, held in Cairo, Egypt on 26-27th September 2010 was supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Centre for Environment and Development in the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE).

The forum was a follow-up of the 'Policy Development Meeting for the Middle East, West Asia and North Africa on Clean Fuels and Vehicles' held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2006 and the "Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Policy Development Meeting on Clean Fuels and Vehicles" held in Manama, Bahrain on 12-13th March 2008. The forum aimed to consolidate the recommendations made at these meetings into national level action plans for the implementation of clean fuels and vehicles policies. The PCFV global target is 50ppm sulphur level in fuels.

Representatives from government, industry, civil society from nine countries, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen, attended. Also present were regional and international clean fuel and vehicle experts.

The forum also introduced the Global Fuel Economy Initiative (GFEI) and what countries can do to achieve 50% reduction in national vehicle fleet carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. GFEI is a new initiative launched in 2009 by UNEP, the FIA Foundation, the International Transport Forum and the International Energy Agency. For more see http://www.50by50campaign.org/Pages/Homepage.aspx

Meeting Documents

• Agenda
  
  
• Objectives
  
  
• Participants List
  
  
• Information Note
  
  
• News Article
  
  
• Photo Gallery
  
  
• Meeting Report

Meeting Presentations

Day 1

• Opening Remarks, Dr. Hossam Allam, Centre for Environment & Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)
  
  
• Opening Remarks, Mr. Clarence Woo, Asian Clean Fuels Association (ACFA)
  
  
• Keynote Address, Ms. Mary M'Mukindia, UNEP Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV)
  
  
• Global Trends in Vehicle Standards and Emissions for Unleaded Gasoline and Low Sulfur Fuels and Impact of Clean Fuels on Vehicles and Health, Michael P. Walsh, International Consultant Board Chairman, ICCT
  
  
• Global Trends in Fuels: Focusing on Unleaded Gasoline and Low Sulfur Fuels, Aida Gonzalez Palomino, Research analyst, Europe & Africa International Fuel Quality Center
  
  
• Strategies for Producing Cleaner Fuels: Refining Challenges, Mr. Ahmed Khalil, Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Bahrain Petroleum & Gas Co (BAPCO)
  
  
• Refinery Financing Challenges - for Clean Fuels, Mr. David Bleasdale, CITAC Africa LLP;
  
  
• New Global Initiative on Transport and Climate Change (Global Fuel Economy Initiative-GFEI), Ms. Mary M'Mukindia, United Nation Environment Programme(UNEP)
  
  
• Co-benefits of Vehicles Emissions and Climate Change, Ms. Jane Metcalfe, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

Day 2

• Overview Towards Cleaner Fuels with Case Example: Morocco Clean Fuels Road Map - successes & current status, Mr. John Mruttu, Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd; African Refiners Association (ARA)
  
  
• Status of Countries, Mr. Hafid EL OUALJA, Morocco
  
  
• Status of Countries, Egypt, Mr. Foad Rashad, GASTECH, Egypt
  
  
• Synopsis of Asia Fuel Road Map as case study for Middle East, Ms. Mary M'Mukindia, UNEP Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV) Courtesy of CAI-Asia