24 May 2016: Though numerous countries and regions are coming up with effective and cost-effective measures to improve air quality, the current global response to pervasive poor air quality is inadequate, noted UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner with regard to the launch of two UNEP reports, titled ‘Actions on Air Quality’ and ‘A Review of Air Pollution Control in Beijing: 1998-2013.’ The reports were launched at the second session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The report titled ‘Actions on Air Quality’ focuses on ten measures to improve air quality, organized around six categories: indoor air pollution, public transport, fuels and vehicles, industry, waste burning, and air quality laws and regulations. Overall, the report notes progress across these categories in different countries and regions. It identifies improvements with regard to access to cleaner cooking fuels and stoves, renewable energies, fuel sulphur content and public transport. While the report underscores that many countries have yet to adopt sufficient measures to improve air quality, it does highlight some successful examples, including from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The publication’s analysis of air quality policies and programmes for 193 countries revealed crosscutting challenges to addressing air pollution. These included: ineffective implementation and enforcement of existing policies and regulations; limited cooperation between national and city administration; the universal need for monitoring and assessment; and the importance of behavioral change and public participation through awareness and stakeholder involvement.

With regard to policy actions, the publication recommends actions focus on: non-solid fuels; efficient cook/heating stoves; vehicle emission standards; fuel sulphur content; public transport; industrial energy efficiency; clean production incentives; open burning of agricultural and/ or municipal waste; laws and regulations; and air quality standards.

The report focusing on Beijing, China, looks at attempts to control the city’s air pollution over a 15-year period, from when it began launching air pollution control programmes. The analysis, carried out by UNEP and the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, found that carbon monoxide and sulphur levels are below limits set by China’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, while nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter are moving towards the standards. According to the report, coal consumption in the power sector and vehicle emissions resulting from vehicle emission control measures have decreased. [Publication: Actions on Air Quality: Policies & Programmes for Improving Air Quality Around the World] [Publication: Actions on Air Quality Summary Report] [Publication: A Review of Air Pollution Control in Beijing: 1998-2013] [UNEP Press Release] [UN Press Release] [UNEP Knowledge Repository]