GEO Haiti 2010

GEO HAITI • 2010
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rainfall, as in the case of the banks of the Grise
River, to the north of Port-au-Prince (GEORGES.
op.cit.). Among other things, a succession of
“dismal” landscapes results from the chaotic
management of quarries. The figure below shows
a typical case of this type of management (BME,
1998).
more intense in urban areas, as a result of industrial
activities and intensity of traffic. Available data
indicate that approximately 40,00 vehicles use
the country’s main inter-city highway, while
less than 2,000 use the secondary highway and
around 800 automobiles use the other networks
(REPUBLIC OF HAITI, 2004).
Figure 66: A “dismal” mining landscape
Source: Antonio Perera, 2009
Therefore, despite the lack of data, one can easily
imagine the level of air pollution in the cities in
Haiti, especially Port-au-Prince, where most of
the country’s economic activity is centralized.
7.1 Multiple Sources
The emission of air pollutants results from
multiple activities, the most obvious being: traffic,
industrial and agricultural processes, domestic
activities and the incineration of waste.
7.1.1 Vehicular Traffic
7. Atmosphere
Air pollution in Haiti could be considered a
secondary issue, compared to the magnitude of
other environmental problems. This situation is
not well-known and authorities have remained
until now virtually silent on the issue. However
the problem seems to be rising and deserves
serious attention.
In Haiti, air pollutants are varied. These range
from greenhouse gases (GHG) which cause
an increase in atmospheric temperature, i.e.
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which in turn
contribute to the destruction of the Ozone layer
(MOE, 2001). Furthermore, it is believed that other
compounds, such as solid aerosols, particles of
dust from the roads, persistent organic pollutants
(POP) released during the combustion of waste
(furans, dioxins) or from spraying and application
of pesticides and heavy metals are also present.
Moreover, the composition of the atmosphere
varies depending if rural or urban, with pollution
Road traffic has increased in recent decades;
during these last fifteen years, the car fleet has
increased fivefold and represents about 200,000
motor vehicles, powered by fossil fuels (Republic
of Haiti, 2004).
Furthermore, usually vehicles are poorly
maintained, and the authorities confirm that very
few drivers submit to the regulations regarding
maintenance. They recognize, moreover, that
“the situation is serious enough that regulatory
actions be considered (MOE, 2001)”.
Very limited control is exercised over the system
of motorized transport in Haiti, and this lack of
control together with an increase in vehicular
traffic, have contributed to air pollution. For
example, in 1994 (BME 2001), emissions amounted
to 92 Gg of carbon dioxide (CO 2
) and 39 Gg of
sulfur dioxide (SO 2
) as a result of transport in
Haiti.
Pollution, however, is concentrated mainly in
cities since the inter-city and rural traffic is much
less intense (Republic of Haiti, 2004).