Bangkok--13 Nov--UNISBKK
Although air quality in Asian cities has been improving, the level of most pollutants is still above the guideline values of the World Health Organization, said Sophie Punte, incoming executive director for CAI-Asia Center, at the opening session of Better Air Quality (BAQ) 2008 today.
With many cities still struggling to improve their air quality, half a million people in Asian are dying each year from pollution, with millions more suffering from asthma and other pollution-related diseases.
Ms. Punte said the main causes of pollution are due to:
- robust GDP growth;
- rapid urbanization — and over the next 20 years half a billion people will be added to Asian cities;
- strong growth in energy consumption; and
- growth in new vehicles.
It is important for Asian governments to anticipate the growth in these areas and their impact on air quality, she said. In scaling up efforts to meet the challenges, Ms. Punte said, “We need to look not at 25 cities, not 250 cities, but around 2,500 cities that have a population of 100,000 or more.”
To meet the challenge, she said, “We have to think differently in the coming years.”
Transport sector policies tend to focus on cars, she said, and more attention should be paid to non-motorized transport, such as walking and cycling, to encourage pedestrians and cyclists.
Ms Punte listed the approaches needed to tackle air quality. She said:
- We need to influence policy makers more;
- We need to look beyond the transport section to include other sectors such as construction and industry and urban planning;
- We need to integrate more with climate change. Air quality and climate change have interactive causes and effects and they share common solutions. Air pollution issues are more pressing at the local level whereas climate change is a global issue.
Media enquiries:
Ian Gill, [email protected]
Michael R. Co
Knowledge Management Division Head
CAI-Asia Center
Unit 3510, 35th Floor, Robinsons-Equitable Tower,
ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
Tel: (632) 395 28 43 to 45
Fax: (632) 395 28 46 - Kong Ha award5.doc - Singapore public transport.doc - Sophie Punte.doc