At the first Global Air Pollution and Health Summit in Geneva, experts and government officials from all over the world have come together to tackle the global epidemic of air pollution.
In a report published today at the summit, UN Environment and the Climate and Clean Air coalition propose 25 science-based effective measures to reduce air pollution. In their report, Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific, Science-Based Solutions, they show how these 25 solutions could improve the lives of millions across Asia and the Pacific.
To spare you from reading the 150 page report (and because here at Climate Tracker we love summaries), here are the 25 measures that could make all the difference in the world to get air pollution under control:
Introduce Post-combustion controls
Introduce the newest end-of-pipe measures to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate mtter at power stations and in large-scale industry.
Improve Industrial emission standards
Introduce advanced emissions standards in industries, e.g.,iron and steel plants, cement factories, glass production, chemical industry, etc.
Improve Emission standards for road vehicles
Strengthen all emissions standards; special focus on regulation of light- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Vehicle inspection and maintenance
Enforce mandatory checks and repairs for vehicles.
Dust control
Suppress construction and road dust; increase green areas.
Agricultural crop residues
Manage agricultural residues, including strict enforcement of bans on open burning.
Residential waste burning
Strictly enforce bans on open burning of household waste.
Prevention of forest and peatland fires
Prevent forest and peatland fires through improved forest, land and water management and fire prevention strategies.
Livestock manure management
Introduce covered storage and efficient application of manures; encourage anaerobic digestion.
Improve the use of Nitrogen fertilizers
Establish efficient application; for urea also use urease inhibitors and/or substitute with, for example, ammonium nitrate.
Improve Brick Ovens
Improve efficiency and introduce emissions standards for Brick kilns (stone ovens).
International shipping
Require low-sulphur fuels and stricter control of particulate emissions related to shipping.
Solvent use and refineries
Introduce low-solvent paints for industrial and do-it-yourself applications; leak detection; incineration and recovery.
Go for Clean cooking and heating
Use clean fuels – electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in cities, and LPG and advanced biomass cooking and heating stoves in rural areas; substitute of coal by briquettes.
Switch to renewables for power generation
Use incentives to foster extended use of wind, solar and hydro power for electricity generation and phase out the least efficient plants.
Improve Energy efficiency for households
Use incentives to improve the energy efficiency of household appliances, buildings, lighting, heating and cooling; encourage rooftop solar installations.
Enforce energy efficiency standards for industries
Introduce ambitious energy efficiency standards for the industry.
Promote Electric vehicles
Promote the use of electric vehicles.
Improve public transport
Encourage a shift from private passenger vehicles to public transport.
Solid waste Management
Encourage centralized waste collection with source separation and treatment, including gas utilization.
Agricultural Management of Rice paddies
Encourage intermittent aeration of continuously flooded paddies.
Wastewater treatment
Introduce well-managed two-stage treatment with biogas recovery.
Improve efficiency of existing Coal mining
Encourage pre-mining recovery of coal mine gas.
Improve existing Oil and gas production
Encourage recovery of associated petroleum gas; stop routine flaring; improve leakage control.
Replace refrigerant fluids
Ensure full compliance with the Kigali Amendment, aimed at the complete phase-out of Hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs).