Strengthening International Cooperation on Regional Air Pollution - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Mark ELDER (IGES) Katsunori SUZUKI (Kanazawa Univ.)

Strengthening International Cooperation on Regional Air Pollution Management in East Asia: Possible Approaches and Prospects

Better Air Quality Conference Singapore 2010 Session: Regional and Transboundary Air Pollution

9-11 November, 2010

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Trends in Global & Regional Cooperation on Air Pollution

• There are many existing frameworks worldwide

– Europe: LRTAP (1979) – Asia: Malé Declaration (1999), EANET (2001), CAI-Asia (2001) ASEAN Haze Agreement (2002), ABC (2002), etc. – Latin America: CAI-LA (1998), IANABIS (2002) – Africa: CAI-SSA (1998):

• Recent Key Trends

– Increasing LINKS between frameworks (regional & global)

• Global Air Pollution Forum (GAPF):

promote cooperation at regional, hemispheric & global scales

• Joint Forum on the Atmospheric Environment in Asia and the Pacific

– LINKS between air pollution & climate change – co-benefit/ co-control approach

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LRTAP: Multi-species, Multi-effects Approach

Acidification

Eutrophication

Ground- level Ozone

Surface Waters Terrestrial Ecosystems Marine Ecosystems Yield Losses

(crops & forest)

Human Health Materials

SO2 NOX NH3 VOCS 3

• Comprehensive, integrated approach
• Based on scientific modeling to maximize cost effectiveness
• Successful in achieving cost effective reductions
• New trend: efforts to link air pollution with climate issues

• Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East

Asia (EANET)

– Regular phase fr.2001, 13 countries, aims at monitoring – Highly reliable data with strict QA/QC activities – Solidarity among air pollution community at inter-governmental level – Significant improvement & capacity building on monitoring – Formation of scientific community on air pollution (still weak) – Tradition of decision making by consensus – Burden sharing by all participating countries with UN assessment scale

The Situation in East Asia: EANET

10 Nov. 2010 BAQ 2010

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EANET:

Changing Situation & Need for Improvement

• Severe air pollution now and in the future
• Various threats concurrently

– Traditional local air pollution (SO2,PM, and NOx) – Acid deposition & other trans-boundary air pollution (Haze) – Global GHG, etc.

• Lack of an integrated approach to better air quality
• A more comprehensive framework is required

– Multi-species, multi-effects approach – Integrated approach from monitoring to preventive/mitigation actions – Compatibility with other regional/global frameworks

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Some progress in cooperation between frameworks: Joint Forum on the Atmospheric Environment in Asia and the Pacific

Closer cooperation among regional air pollution networks to enhance harmonization and share of good practices

Joint Forum on the Atmospheric Environment in Asia and the Pacific

EANET ASEAN Haze Agreement Malé Declaration

Central Asian Environment Convention

SPREP

Meeting of the Joint forum on Atmospheric Environment in Asia and the Pacific, 10-11 Mar 2010 6

But more progress is needed.

• Formally binding agreement (like LRTAP):

– Multi-species, multi-effects, including modeling – Inter-linkages considered, from both air and climate viewpoints – Monitoring, emission inventories, reduction targets, policy measures

• Non-binding agreement: informal and voluntary

– Regional cooperation without obligation – Not concrete target will be set

• Co-benefits/ co-control approach

– Mainstream air pollution issues into climate change – Integrated mechanism developed to enable co-control – Enhance efficiency and cost effectiveness

Possible Approaches to Strengthen the Framework

• f Atmospheric Management in Asia

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Overall Policy Trends in the Region (Japan, China, Korea, Thailand examples)

Steady gradual strengthening of air regulation in case countries.

– Especially stronger automobile emissions standards – Energy conservation, renewable energy, fuel switching (e.g. natural gas) – Steady upgrading of environmental administration capabilities. – Beijing Olympics model – rapid strong (but temporary) measures – to be replicated

Therefore cautious optimism?

Problems remain, however

–

Some standards are lower than WHO or US or other countries

–

Difficulties in enforcement, especially at the local level

–

Continued need for upgraded administrative capacity at national & especially local levels

–

Continued concerns about costs of air pollution control and effects on economic development and competitiveness.

–

In some cases, stronger policies and capacity are offset by rapid economic growth, and air pollution still increases.

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East Asia: Potential for Change-Domestic Conditions

Success factors & obstacles in Europe/LRTAP and comparison to conditions E. Asia

Note: This is highly summarized, but applies to many countries and a range of protocols

Factors Factors relating to Europe/LRTAP Comparison to E. Asia

International / Strategic

• LRTAP promoted détente (‘70s)/ end of cold war (‘90s)
• Cold war, nuclear military competition, not an obstacle
• Security issues less serious in E.

Asia; Can env. promote security? Science

• Joint modeling, epistemic community
• Developing

Public awareness

• Media generated awareness of damage
• Developing

Domestic Institutions

• Stronger environment administration capacity in many

countries

• Developing

Economic concerns of business & citizens

• Little trade between East/West blocs (‘70s) (minimized

trade competitiveness concerns)

• Competitiveness fears were a major obstacle; overcome by

higher priorities (security, joining EU), RAINS modeling

• Desire to join EU was key factor for some in South/East

Europe (stronger EU standards) (1990s)

• Some countries: benefits for economy, competitiveness
• Fuel switching, tech solutions, can lower cost
• Implementation weakened in recessions
• Extensive trade in E. Asia; concerns

about trade, competitiveness, growth

• Still fears; economics top priority
• Little link of environment & trade

agreements, no E. Asian community

• Fewer economic benefits

perceived in E. Asia

• Some fuel switching in E. Asia
• Economy is often better in E. Asia

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East Asia and Europe: Differences & Implications

• Distribution: Environmental damage (especially transboundary) may be

more unevenly distributed in Asia than in Europe

• Institution: E. Asia has lower degree of formal regional institutions

(political, security, economic), regional economic integration

– Nevertheless, a significant amount of informal cooperation at lower levels

• Disparity: Greater income disparity between countries (fewer developed

countries, greater gap between high & low income countries in E. Asia)

• Europe achieved cooperation despite a long history of bitter

international conflicts and significant differences between countries

• Cold war, communism vs. capitalism
• Disparities in income and economic development
• Cultural, language differences
• Fears about trade competitiveness, economic growth
• How different it would be in East Asia?

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10 Nov. 2010 BAQ 2010

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Main Domestic Obstacles to Stronger Air Pollution Measures

Insufficient “Information” -- Uncertainty or inadequate awareness about air pollution effects Opposition due to concerns about costs or economic competitiveness

• Not only business, also voters/citizens concerned about jobs

Institutional structure/decision making process

• Tendency to prioritize business actors, economic concerns (e.g.

environment ministries typically weaker than economic ministries)

• Lack of capacity for information collection, policy implementation

Note: these obstacles can be found in many/most countries

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Policy Implications: To Address Domestic Obstacles

• Overall domestic air pollution policies are strengthening already, at

least somewhat, in a range of countries

• How to accelerate positive trends, promote support for

international cooperation & agreement?

• Epistemic Community: strengthen joint research among countries
• Awareness Raising: the problems & costs of air pollution, and the

benefits of an integrated approach

Information

• Cobenefits approach to minimize costs
• Technical solutions: energy efficiency, fuel switching
• Incorporate air quality management into green growth strategies
• Integrate environmental concerns into trade agreements (EPA/FTA)
• International coordination to minimize effects on trade competitiveness
• Modeling to maximize cost effectiveness

Economic cost, competitiveness concerns

• Capacity building of environment ministries, local env. administration, etc.
• Mainstream environmental concerns into other policy areas
• Enhance SEA/EIA
• Expand public participation in policymaking

Domestic institutions/ policy process Note: some are already implemented to some extent, but more is desirable.

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