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South China Catching Up With Beijing in Air Pollution

Environmental Health – Posted online: Friday, January 18, 2008 at 12:19:40 PM

South China too Catching Up With Beijing in Air Pollution

It is not as if Beijing alone is wringing its hands in helplessness over the deteriorating air quality. The situation doesn’t seem to be any better in the Guangdong Province, Hong Kong. It recorded an average of 75.7 days of haze in 2007, a “marked increase” over normal years and “the most” since 1949 when the New China was founded.

Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky and diminish visibility.

In total, 27 major cities and counties set records in terms of hazy days last year. The situation was relatively more grave in the Pearl River Delta region in eastern Guangdong. Most cities and counties there saw more than 100 hazy days, a report on the atmospheric composition released by the provincial meteorological bureau said.

Enping City in Guangdong’s northwest recorded 240 hazy days last year, the most in the province, the report said.

“The serious situation of hazy days shows the atmospheric pollution in Guangdong, especially in urban areas, is worsening,” it noted.

Industrial discharge and auto exhaust were largely blamed for the air pollution, according to Wu Dui, an atmospheric studies expert from the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Bureau.

He said haze lingering over the Pearl River Delta region was mainly caused by lower atmospheric pollutants brought by air currents along the coastline from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan; the haze was rarely blown from the region to Hong Kong — only one to three days in a year.

In addition, the photochemical pollution was grave and the ratio of fine particles was increasing in the atmosphere over the sky of the delta region. This not only greatly reduced visibility in hazy days, but also did harm to people’s health by damaging their respiratory tracts, heart and blood vessels, liver and lungs, Wu said.

”It may take at least 20 or 30 years to bring the haze under control. Cities in the delta region should join in fighting air pollution instead of acting by themselves,” he added.

Source – Medindia

South China Province Reports Worsening Air Quality

10:39, January 16, 2008

The air quality of south China’s Guangdong Province is getting worse with record hazy days registered last year, a newly-issued environment report shows.

The province, which borders Hong Kong, recorded an average of 75.7 days of haze in 2007, a “marked increase” over normal years and “the most” since 1949 when the New China was founded, according to the report on atmospheric composition of Guangdong released by the provincial meteorological bureau.

Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky and diminish visibility.

In total, 27 major cities and counties set records in terms of hazy days last year. The situation was relatively more grave in the Pearl River Delta region in eastern Guangdong. Most cities and counties there saw more than 100 hazy days, the report said, citing 213 days in Dongguan City and 238 days in Xinhui City.

Enping City in Guangdong’s northwest recorded 240 hazy days last year, the most in the province, the report said.

Last month saw an average of 11.8 hazy days in Guangdong, the most in 2007, and 22 such days in the provincial capital Guangzhou,the highest since 2000, according to the report.

“The serious situation of hazy days shows the atmospheric pollution in Guangdong, especially in urban areas, is worsening,” it said.

Industrial discharge and auto exhaust were largely blamed for the air pollution, according to Wu Dui, an atmospheric studies expert from the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Bureau.

He said haze lingering over the Pearl River Delta region was mainly caused by lower atmospheric pollutants brought by air currents along the coastline from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan; the haze was rarely blown from the region to Hong Kong — only one to three days in a year.

In addition, the photochemical pollution was grave and the ratio of fine particles was increasing in the atmosphere over the sky of the delta region. This not only greatly reduced visibility in hazy days, but also did harm to people’s health by damaging their respiratory tracts, heart and blood vessels, liver and lungs, Wu said.

The term fine particles — an air pollution — refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in width.

“The environment authorities should issue a pre-warning of fine particles and give timely health advice to the public in addition to publishing air pollution results,” Wu said.

“It may take at least 20 or 30 years to bring the haze under control. Cities in the delta region should join in fighting air pollution instead of acting by themselves,” he added.

Source: Xinhua

Green Campaigner Uses Shame Tactics

By Wang Zhuoqiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-11 07:30

For a company, a brand matters the most.

Environmentalist Ma Jun, who is well aware of the dictum, has used it to pressure polluters to mend their ways.

He created a website to name and shame companies, and even local governments, that pollute the environment.

“Companies which may ignore fines or other punishments cannot afford their brands being blacklisted,” Ma said Thursday.

“The pressure exerted can help stop pollution at its origin, because the public will penalize polluters by shunning their products.”

On Saturday, the 39-year-old was selected as one of 50 people – including four Chinese – who could save the planet by The Guardian, a leading British newspaper, because of his green efforts in the past decade.

“The award was a surprise to me, and the honor belongs to our team,” said Ma, who in 2006 set up the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a Beijing-based non-governmental organization with five staff members.

The awards to the four Chinese send out a message, Ma said.

“It shows that the world cares about the environment in China, and how this developing country can play a role in solving environmental problems.”

The other Chinese on the list are Pan Yue, 47, vice-minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration; Jia Zhangke, 37, actor/director credited with raising public awareness of the environment; and Shi Zhengrong, 44, a scientist who owns Suntech Power, one of the world’s 10 biggest solar panel producers.

Ma said: “The new interaction between the government, public, enterprises and NGOs will benefit environment protection in China.”

As one of the leaders of environmental NGOs, which are estimated at about 3,000 in the country, Ma said the NGOs have made up for what the government may not be doing very well, such as keeping the public better informed about polluters.

On its part, the government has set in place a series of laws or regulations regarding the environment since 2003, which have enhanced public awareness of the environment.

These efforts have contributed significantly to climate change mitigation, he said.

Ma’s website features a list of polluters based on government data – placed on two web pages widely reported by the media.

On the blacklist are more than 10,000 water-polluting enterprises and over 4,000 that pollute air.

Up to now, about 50 enterprises have approached Ma, explaining their situation and promising to clean up their act.

Eight enterprises have asked independent environmental groups to audit their environmental management system and pollution control facilities. Of them, two have been removed from the blacklist after they passed the audits.

Ma is no stranger to lobbyists from blacklisted enterprises.

“Some come and say they want to support our project. I tell them to check their pollution first.”

But given the fact that 15,000 enterprises remain on the blacklist, “domestic and foreign-funded enterprises in China still have a long way to go to come clean,” he said.

His goal for this year: First, to create a database that categorizes products by type and industry.

“Consumers can check online the products they want to buy and select products from clean companies.”

Second, he wants to set up a new list of polluting suppliers as a reference for big companies.

“I hope big names such as Wal-Mart could one day stand up and say: ‘We don’t buy from polluting suppliers’.”

Ma, a former researcher with Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, published a book, China’s Water Crisis, in 1999. He shifted from journalism to water protection during his field trips to polluted rivers and lakes in the 1990s.

“China has been facing rising challenges in terms of water shortages and pollution,” he said.

About 400 of 600 cities lack water, and water in about 30 percent of waterways is neither drinkable nor suitable for irrigation.

About 300 million farmers do not have accesses to safe drinking water, according to government figures.

Faulty Data Hampers Drive To Cut Pollution

Cheung Chi-fai – SCMP
Jan 10, 2008

Government officials monitoring air pollution in the Pearl River Delta have had to move the goalposts for pollution reduction after estimating that emissions levels in 1997 were twice as high as had been thought.

The Pearl River Delta Air Quality Management Plan review said particulates emission in the delta region in 1997 was 520,000 tonnes, more than double the 245,000 tonnes previously estimated.

A 40 per cent underestimation in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions were also found in the review. As a result, emissions data from 1997 that serve as a baseline for measuring progress towards reducing pollution have been raised, according to the review paper.

As the 1997 data had been underestimated by as much as 112 per cent in the case of particulates, changes to the baselines would have a big influence on determining how far the region was from achieving emission reduction targets.

In 2002, Hong Kong and Guangdong province agreed to pursue pollution target cuts of between 20 and 55 per cent in four major pollutants by 2010 from 1997 levels.

By underestimating the baseline emissions, the extent of emission reductions required by 2010 would be smaller, making it easier to achieve the targets. Overestimates, however, meant more efforts were needed.

Changes to the baseline data, however, would also lead to different maximum allowable emission limits. The review report said the underestimation on the 1997 data was due to factories failing to declare emission levels accurately, mismatches between reported emissions and amount of fuel used, and industrial processes not taken into account.

The paper said an emission calculation methodology in keeping with standards in the United States and European was completed for Hong Kong and Guangdong in 2005. It was then used to review the 1997 and 2003 emission figures – the most up to date data available for Guangdong.

Alexis Lau Kai-hon, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Science and Technology, said updating the baseline data would have an impact on how targets could be met.

“Lifting the baseline not just means more efforts to cut emissions are needed, it also means higher levels of emissions will be tolerated, too,” he said.

Data released by the Environmental Protection Department showed that not only were the 1997 baselines adjusted, the yearly emission data of Hong Kong have also been revised based on the new formula. As a result, Hong Kong was moving faster towards meeting the 2010 targets.

For example, the city had reported nitrogen oxide emissions in 2005 were 15 per cent below the old 1997 baseline but the difference widened to 17.8 per cent against the revised baseline. Figures from 1996 show the city had already met its 2010 target in nitrogen oxide emissions.

Delta Emissions Up 18pc In 2003 Despite Pact

SCMP -Helen Wu and Cheung Chi-fai
Jan 09, 2008

The Pearl River Delta has reported a rise in emissions of up to 18 per cent in 2003, a year after a cross-border agreement with Hong Kong to reduce major pollutants by 2010, according to a document released yesterday.

It was the first time Guangdong had released figures on its progress towards the 2010 targets – ranging from 20 to 55 per cent reductions for pollutants including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

The mid-term review of the Pearl River Delta Air Quality Management Plan showed that regional emissions, excluding Hong Kong, rose by 1 per cent for particulates, 2 per cent for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide and 18 per cent for VOCs in 2003. The base year for comparisons was 1997.

In a separate release of Hong Kong’s 2006 emission figures by the Environmental Protection Department, further progress was reported in meeting the 2010 targets, with a reduction ranging from 23 to 48 per cent for the three major pollutants in the 2006 levels compared with 1997. However, sulfur dioxide emissions rose by 12 per cent.The review was conducted by experts from the department and Guangdong’s Environmental Protection Bureau. The 2003 emission figures for the delta region were the latest available based on a mutually agreed methodology.

An environment department source yesterday said the review was essential as Guangdong had been through rapid economic growth, making assumptions adopted in the previous cross-border air study obsolete. “It is possible that the mainland will miss the targets if they do not adopt enhanced measures to cut emissions,” he said.

According to the review, both sides could still meet the 2010 targets – or surpass some of them.
But Man Chi-sum, chief executive of Green Power, said the lack of legislation to prevent the creation of VOCs on the mainland made the prospects of a significant reduction “dim”.

Hahn Chu Hon-keung, of Friends of the Earth, also said the pace of development would make meeting the targets difficult.

HK, Guangdong Vow To Hit Air-Quality Targets

Environment News

HK, Guangdong vow to hit air-quality targets

The emission-reduction and control measures Hong Kong and Guangdong have adopted could bring about a positive impact, cutting air-pollutant emissions in the region, and are conducive to achieving the agreed 2010 emission-cut targets by both sides, according to findings of the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan’s mid-term review.

The mid-term review report was considered by the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference’s 10th working meeting today. It concluded that upon implementation of the current and committed emission-reduction measures under the management plan, Hong Kong should be able to fully meet the mutually agreed targets by 2010.

The report said by 2010, Hong Kong’s economy will rise 72%, population 11%, electricity consumption 43% and vehicle mileage 8%, using 1997 as the base year.

Pollutants reduced

Implementing the existing preventive and control measures will significantly cut 2010 emissions of sulphur dioxide 54% to 30,000 tonnes, nitrogen oxides 25%, to 90,000 tonnes, respirable suspended particulates 58%, to 5,000 tonnes and volatile organic compounds 55%, to 30,000 tonnes, when compared to 1997 levels.

In respect of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, with its significant socio-economic developments which well exceeded the original estimates, the emission-cut targets could be achieved by 2010 upon implementation of additional enhanced control measures as recommended in the mid-term review report.

These include:

* nitrogen-oxides removal for newly built power plants;
* tightening emission standards of air-pollutant emissions for local boilers;
* enhancing cleaner production requirement for volatile organic compounds-containing products;
* setting limits on consumer products’ volatile organic compound contents; and
* tightening control on emissions from local vessels.

To read the report’s executive summary, click here.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to continuing control measures set out in the management plan. The Guangdong Provincial Government will implement additional emission-control measures in the Pearl River Detla Economic Zone, taking account of the review’s recommendations.

Both sides also reaffirmed their determination to achieve the mutually agreed emission-reduction targets by 2010.

Marine Pollution Regulations

Danger at sea – Calls are growing to tighten regulation of the world’s shipping fleet, a major source of pollution

Michael Richardson
Jan 08, 2008

Often steaming in international waters far from land, the world’s fleet of ocean-going ships has largely evaded scrutiny as a source of harmful air pollution and global warming emissions. But this lack of regulation is about to change as the fleet, which carries 90 per cent of trade, expands rapidly and pressure increases to impose tighter fuel standards, and others, on the trillion-dollar industry.

Calls are also growing louder to include both the shipping and aviation industries in any new international deal to cut greenhouse emissions. Neither are covered by the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The cleanup proposals are being closely watched by major ports like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore because they will add substantially to business costs. They could give other maritime centres a competitive advantage unless the new controls are adopted and enforced by all trading nations.

A report last month by four US environmental groups found that only six countries emitted more carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, than the world’s fleet of 60,000 ships. It said that, each year, the fleet released between 600 million and 900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, about the same as the 130 million cars on US roads.

However, shipping industry officials say it is difficult to measure carbon dioxide pollution from the global fleet and that some estimates are exaggerated. A figure frequently cited by the industry is a report to the British government by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern. It concluded that carbon dioxide emissions from ships contributed just 2 per cent to the global total in 2000, compared with 15 per cent from the transport sector as a whole. Critics insist that the level is substantially higher and fails to take account of the rapid expansion of seaborne trade, which has surged 50 per cent in the past 15 years.

Ships are also a source of non-carbon-dioxide pollution. The International Council on Clean Transportation, made up of transport and air quality officials from a wide range of states, reported last year that seagoing ships produced more sulfur dioxide than all the world’s cars, trucks and buses combined. The council’s study showed that the sulfur content of marine bunker fuel is far greater than highway diesel fuel. Bunker fuel is significantly cheaper than road fuel.

Environmental groups say that ships account for between 8 per cent and 10 per cent of sulfur emissions from all types of fossil fuel and also contribute nearly 30 per cent of global releases of nitrogen oxides. These emissions harm human health, cause acid rain and deplete the ozone layer.

Critics say that another pollutant from ships – black carbon, or soot – can warm the atmosphere many times more than the same amount of carbon dioxide.

In November, reacting to public concern about pollution from ships, the European Commission called on the International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating shipping and marine pollution, to do more to help combat climate change. The IMO set up a scientific group in July to study the issue. The group included experts from major shipping and trading nations, including China, Japan and Singapore, as well as non-governmental organisations. Their report is due to be presented at an IMO meeting in London next month.

Any proposals to tighten fuel standards, reduce funnel exhaust gases and use only shore-based electric power when in port would be included as amendments to global marine pollution laws under the IMO’s Marpol Convention. They could be adopted as early as October and come into force 16 months later.

Some ship owners and government officials have cautioned the industry to take a conservative approach to pollution cuts because of the potential costs involved. But Tony Mason, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, warned that if governments and industry failed to come up with improved standards by the end of this year, “we shall see a serious disenchantment with the IMO process and a proliferation of local regulations, led in all probability by the EU and the US”.

National and regional regulation has already begun in America and Europe. For example, the US House of Representatives approved legislation in March to allow the coastguard and Environmental Protection Agency to enforce emission limits on thousands of domestic and foreign-flagged ships that enter US waters each year.

If the IMO fails to come up with credible and enforceable global standards, sea-based transport will be saddled with a patchwork quilt of regulation. This will slow shipping and maritime trade, and increase its cost.

Michael Richardson is visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. This is a personal comment.

Pollution Reaches Dangerous Levels: EPD

Lina Lim – SCMP
1:00pm, Jan 08, 2008

Pollution levels in Hong Kong on Tuesday reached dangerous levels – according to the territory’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

Pollution at general stations in the city recorded unhealthy levels of nitrogen dioxide and respirable suspended particulates between the 61 (high) to 105 (very high) point range.

Meanwhile, roadside stations in Causeway Bay, Central and Mongkok recorded more alarming levels at 91, 111 and 100, respectively.

People with heart or respiratory ailments were advised to avoid going outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

Respirable suspended particles are suspended particulates smaller than 10 micrometres which have the ability to penetrate deeply into the lungs.

Depending on their source and existing meteorological conditions, the particles can be made up of a number of different constituents such as silicon, aluminium, calcium, manganese and iron from construction sites and carbon, lead, bromine and hydrocarbons from vehicular emissions.

Nitrogen dioxide, however, enters the air as a result of combustion processes which involve high temperatures, such as those produced by power plants and vehicular engines.

It is a corrosive light brown gas which can cause urban haze or photo-chemical smog.

Hong Kong has a serous problem with air pollution and the growing government is under pressure to deal with the problem – particularly because of the effect it is having on people’s health.

It has been estimated that over 2,000 people annually die in Hong Kong because of air pollution; while others suffer serious health effects.

A government study several years ago argued that 80 per cent of the city’s pollution came from factories and power plants in southern China.

But a report by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Civic Exchange, a think-tank, argued that in 2006 Hong Kong’s air pollution was largely the result of local factors. This included the city’s road traffic, coal-fired power stations and ships.

Pollution Control Measures

SCMP Dec 30, 2007

With pollution control measures there must be a level playing field

For a long time I resisted buying a domestic air filter on ethical grounds.

It seems quite repellent that well-off families can cocoon their children and provide them with better air to breathe, whilst the extra electricity they use to do this is adding to the environmental problem for the majority of people.

Over my 14 years in Hong Kong I have seen the pollution worsen and as I became a mother to two young boys (the youngest of whom is asthmatic) this began to cause me more and more concern. So of course, I finally cracked and bought one too.

How could I let my personal stance cause my children to suffer and refuse to perhaps limit the long-term damage to them.

Now I am using one I am even more concerned about the environmental impact as obviously the effect of keeping windows shut on days which would be cool enough for a breeze, inevitably lead to more use of the air-conditioner too.

Your paper has carried stories and letters about road pricing – which is effectively exactly the same thing.

The well-off won’t think twice about driving/being chauffeured around town, just as they don’t in London.

In fact it creates a completely two-tier society, where some are able to move freely about the centre of the city laughing and making jokes about how they are privileged to enjoy the effects of keeping others off the streets.

For those other people, especially those with young families living on the fringes of the zone, it has caused a logistical nightmare – causing people to drive further in the terrible congestion just outside the zone to, for example, alternative supermarkets and swimming pools.

Pollution and energy consumption are literally vital issues and should be addressed strongly, quickly and on an egalitarian basis by the government and the whole population for the benefit of the whole population.

Emma Hurlston-Tseng, Pok Fu Lam

Compulsory Energy Codes Help Clear The Air

SCMP LEADER Dec 29, 2007

The link between buildings and air pollution is not readily apparent. You cannot see it by looking at a building, as you can by looking at vehicles with smoky engine exhausts, or easily apportion blame as you can to emissions from coal-burning power stations. But these emissions reflect the link. Government figures show that buildings account for up to 89 per cent of Hong Kong’s total energy consumption. Energy efficient buildings that consume less power therefore help combat pollution by power stations. That is not a revelation. It has long been a pet subject of environmental groups, and Hong Kong has had building standards for higher energy efficiency for nearly 10 years. As we report today, however, compliance is voluntary and very patchy. As a result, the government feels compelled to issue mandatory codes that would apply to new commercial buildings, public space in new residential and industrial buildings, and renovations of existing buildings covering more than half the public space and key
installations.

The proposal has been released for public consultation. It is estimated that extra building costs of up to 5 per cent to ensure air conditioning, lifts and escalators, lighting and electrical installations comply with the codes would be recovered within six years through smaller energy bills, which would then represent savings. That is a proposition for bringing a modern city up to the world’s best practice that seems hard to reject. With the cost-benefit argument here, the consultation should be little more than a formality. That should clear the way for the government to turn its mind to older buildings that have been exempted from the codes because space or design constraints would make compliance onerous. Given that they are more likely to be energy inefficient, incentives should be considered where compliance with the codes would make a big difference. Hong Kong has also been notorious for being too brightly lit at night and for its chilling shopping malls. If mandatory building codes could push us to cut wasteful lighting and turn down freezing air conditioning, so much the better.