ТО ЧТО УДАЛОСБ НАЙТИ

Contents
Background
Air quality monitoring system
Progress and problems
Scope of changes
Option
Timetable
Implementation
Top-down and bottom-up elements

What is Air Pollution?
Major pollutants:
NO2 - nitrogen dioxide ,
SO2 - sulphur dioxide,
O3 - ozone,
CO - carbon monoxide
RSP - respirable suspended particulates (with a nominal aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or smaller)
Direct consequences:
Poor visibility,
Smell,
Respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

Air Pollution Sources in HK

Air quality monitoring in PRD

Air Quality Monitoring Network of HK
14 fixed monitoring stations.
The Air Pollution Index (API)
The network is certified by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS).

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network
Established in
2003-2005

The Network Structure
16 automatic air quality monitoring stations – 3 of them are located in Hong Kong and managed by the HKEPD.
The Regional Air Quality Index (RAQI).

Regional Progress in Reducing
Air Pollution (2010)

Annual Averages of the Pollutants
All units are in milligrams per cubic metre

Recent study of Particulate Matter results
(February, 2012)
Over the period 1998-2008:
the lack of significant change in Hong Kong ambient PM10 levels over the previous decade arises from a significant increase in non-local sources offsetting the significant reductions in vehicle exhaust PM from Hong Kong emission control measures.
emissions reductions from both the PRD and more distant sources are critical to improving air quality in Hong Kong.

Range of Problems
Poor performance. Some of the worst air quality
in the world.
Source: Headley Environmental Index. http://hedleyindex.blogspot.com/

Range of Problems (cont.)
2. Externalities, pollution cost are often not counted;
Who should pay?
voluntary actions scope is limited
government regulations may be the least costly solution.
Ordinary citizens are strongly affected (health cost)
Business (competitiveness cost)
Government (healthcare cost)
Hong Kong ranks 71st in the world in the quality-of-living survey compared with No. 28 for Singapore (2011).
Around 40% of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong member companies had trouble recruiting people because of air pollution (2008).

Range of problems (cont.)
3. Monitoring:
Outdated Air Quality Objectives
Uneven distribution of monitoring stations in HK
Data accuracy (ex. health impact assessment)
Data transparency.
Effectiveness of measures
from both sides.
Targets, standards and
methods used.

Comparison of HK AQO (1987)
and WHO AQG (2006)

Scope of Changes
If we take WHO AQG and the highest annual pollutants concentrations, we can roughly calculate that:
SO2 emissions is about 7,5 times larger
NO2 – 1, 73 times larger
PM 2,5 – 4,1 times larger
PM 10 – 3 times larger

Comparison of 2008 SO2 concentrations
with WHO guidelines
Number of exceedences

Comparison of 2008 NO2 concentrations
with WHO guidelines
Number of exceedences

PM2,5

PM10

Possible Options (“transition paths”)

Implementation
(should target specific sectors)
Regulation
- Control for compliance, sanctions
Economic tools
- Emissions Trading System
- Taxes and subsidies
Promotion
- Transparency
- Education
- Better information
To set up the price on pollution:
congestion charge;
taxes on “dirty” fuel vehicles;

Timetable
EU – 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; low-carbon economy in 2050;
Hong Kong – 2010 air pollution emission reduction targets for PRD region;
Flexibility, but should not postpone too far, otherwise the implementation cost will be higher.

Local actions –
Hong Kong tightened limits on sulfur dioxide;
The Government and the Environment and Conservation Fund provides financial support .
Revision of Air Quality Objectives – consultations 2009, implemented to 2014, but still outdated.
Joint PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan
Current Trends (top-down elements)

Bottom-up Elements
Environmental groups and think-tanks
Business initiatives
Universities

Threat of Decision-Making Failure
Source: J. Kingdon’s Three Streams Model (1995).
Window of opportunity
- closed
Problem
Policy
Politics
Policy change