By Henry Neondo
As global air quality
declines, threatening to add to the seven million people air pollution kills
each year, increased action in some air quality areas points to political will
to tackle this “global public health emergency”, according to reports released
today at the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global urban air pollution levels increased by 8 per cent between 2008 and 2013. More than 80 per cent of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits, threatening lives, productivity and economies.
However, Actions on Air Quality, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found improvements in areas such as access to cleaner cooking fuels and stoves, renewables, fuel sulphur content and public transport – pointing to a growing momentum for change.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global urban air pollution levels increased by 8 per cent between 2008 and 2013. More than 80 per cent of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits, threatening lives, productivity and economies.
However, Actions on Air Quality, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found improvements in areas such as access to cleaner cooking fuels and stoves, renewables, fuel sulphur content and public transport – pointing to a growing momentum for change.
United
Nations Environment Programme Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said, “A
healthy environment is essential to healthy people and our aspirations for a
better world under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“We
are indeed making progress on air pollution, but the fact remains that many people are still breathing air outside
of World Health Organization standards. The health, social and economic costs
are massive and rising. UNEP’s study on ten areas for policy intervention
provides a roadmap for countries to follow as they look to reduce air
pollution, and we will support them every step of the way.”
For example, 97 countries have increased the percentage of households that have access to cleaner burning fuels to more than than 85 per cent – a key move to tackle indoor air pollution, which claims over half the seven million lives.
For example, 97 countries have increased the percentage of households that have access to cleaner burning fuels to more than than 85 per cent – a key move to tackle indoor air pollution, which claims over half the seven million lives.
At
least 82 countries out of 194 analyzed have incentives that promote investment
in renewable energy production, cleaner production, energy efficiency and/or
pollution control equipment. Last year, for the first time, renewables
accounted for a majority of the new electricity-generating capacity added
around the world, at an investment of $286 billion, according to research by
UNEP, Bloomberg and the Frankfurt School.
However, action in other areas is less impressive. Policies and standards on clean fuels and vehicles could reduce emissions by 90 per cent, but only 29 per cent of countries worldwide have adopted Euro 4 emissions standards or above. Meanwhile, less than 20 per cent of countries regulate open waste burning, which is a leading cause of air pollution.
However, action in other areas is less impressive. Policies and standards on clean fuels and vehicles could reduce emissions by 90 per cent, but only 29 per cent of countries worldwide have adopted Euro 4 emissions standards or above. Meanwhile, less than 20 per cent of countries regulate open waste burning, which is a leading cause of air pollution.
A second report released today, which looks at attempts to
control Beijing’s air pollution over a 15-year period, also finds steady
improvements are being made. A Review of Air Pollution Control in
Beijing: 1998-2013 analyzed measures implemented since Beijing began
launching air pollution control programmes, which saw a steady downward trend
in the concentrations of many harmful pollutants.
In 2014, the international community, at the first UNEA, asked UNEP to support global efforts to improve air quality. UNEP has launched several programmes, including an initiative to develop a low-cost sensor that can be used across the developing world to track and address pollution hotspots.
Actions on Air Quality, part of UNEP’s push, focuses on ten basic measures to improve air quality. It shows that the majority of countries world-wide are still to adopt the top-ten air quality policy actions, but highlights many good examples that can be followed.
In 2014, the international community, at the first UNEA, asked UNEP to support global efforts to improve air quality. UNEP has launched several programmes, including an initiative to develop a low-cost sensor that can be used across the developing world to track and address pollution hotspots.
Actions on Air Quality, part of UNEP’s push, focuses on ten basic measures to improve air quality. It shows that the majority of countries world-wide are still to adopt the top-ten air quality policy actions, but highlights many good examples that can be followed.
The Beijing analysis, carried out by UNEP and the Beijing
Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, found that carbon monoxide and
sulphur levels are now below limits set by China’s National Ambient Air Quality
Standards, while nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter ten levels are also
creeping closer to the standards.
This
trend has been driven by a decrease in coal consumption in the power sector and
a drop in vehicle emissions resulting from vehicle emission control measures.
Coal use fell from a peak of 9 million tonnes in 2005 to 6.44 million tonnes in
2013, while the 2013 levels of carbon monoxide dropped by 76 per cent compared
to 1998.
“Even though the air pollution control programmes in Beijing
have made substantial progress, the environment quality is far from satisfactory,”
said Chen Tian, Director General of the Beijing Municipal Environmental
Protection Bureau. “We will continue to explore approaches that could work
effectively for improving the environment in this region.”
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