GAW Report No. 205 - IGAC Project

CHAPTER 3 - ASIAis due the ban of leaded gasoline, introduction of lubricant standards, switching to CNG fuel, andbanning of baby taxis, old trucks, and buses. For example, the lead concentration in the Dhaka cityair (493ngm –3 ) was the highest in the world during the dry season in 1996, which falls down duringthe periods of medium and heavy rainfall. However, the lead concentration in Dhaka air isdecreasing [Salam et al. 2008] due to the ban of leaded fuel. Core [1998] also reported themeasurement of the Department of Environment, Bangladesh for suspended particulate matter(SPM) concentrations at several locations for eight hours along busy roads of Dhaka city between1996 and 1997. Results showed that the SPM concentrations of 665-2456 µg m –3 at a hot spot inDhaka (Farmagte). The SPM trends are highest during the dry season (December-March) due to anincrease in roadway dust, dust from dust-carrying vehicles, and also increased open burning.Salam et al. [2003] measurements show that the SPM concentrations were also decreasingremarkably.Relationships of the trends to regulationsThe Ministry of Environment and Forestry is the key institution for air quality monitoring andmanagement in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The primary legislation instituted to mitigate air pollutionproblems is from the Department of Environment (DoE), Government of Bangladesh. They haveadapted the 1995 Bangladesh Environmental Conservation Act and the 1997 EnvironmentalConservation Rules (ECR) to control air pollution (DOE 1997, DOE 2002).Climatic change issuesThere have been several socioeconomic studies done for climate change issues. TheGovernment of Bangladesh as well as the Department of Environment, educational institutes, andresearch organizations are aware of the climate change issue. No literature values could be foundregarding CO 2 and other trace gas emissions in Dhaka.Research projects on air quality of Dhaka cityAcademic institutions like the Department of Chemistry, Dhaka University, BangladeshUniversity of Engineering and Technology, and Jahangirnagar University are researching variousissues in order to understand air pollution in Dhaka. The AQMP Project (BoE, the GovernmentRepublic of Bangladesh) has long-term measurements for PM and trace gases in Dhaka.Organizations such as the Forum of Environmental Journalists, Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon,Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association, and the Society for Urban EnvironmentProtection help raise awareness among the public on environmental issues including air pollutionthrough conferences, reports, and ad campaigns. There is certainly a need for long-term problemresearch of air pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Problems remainingDhaka still needs to assess the status of the air quality more completely, as well as monitorthe impact of reduction measures in emissions. The lack of information on the positive impacts ofmeasures implemented by the government may undermine the efforts to improve air quality in thecountry further. However, there is a need to conduct further studies to understand the impacts ofair pollution on climate and health as well as to guide policy.3.6 HONG KONG, CHINAIntroduction and specific features of the cityThe Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR; 22º15‘N 114º10‘E) is located at theeastern bank of the Pearl River Delta facing the South China Sea [GovHK, 2009]. Covering a landarea of 1104 km 2 , the territory is composed of New Territories that adjoin Mainland China, KowloonPeninsula, Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, and 262 outlying islands (Figure 23). Due to themountainous terrains, less than 25% of the land area is developed, whist ~40% of the remaininglandmass is designated as country parks and nature reserves. HKSAR experiences a subtropical,monsoonal climate, with a hot (mean air temperature: ~26ºC), wet (80% of the 3066 mm annualrainfall) summer influenced by the southwest monsoon, when typhoons are most common, and a88