Clean Air 2025: An Action Plan for Air Quality Management

Objectives

1. Reduce PM10 levels to 50 μg/m3 by 2025 compared to 63 μg/m3 in 2015.
2. Further reduce the SO2 and NO2 levels compared to 2015 levels.

Description

The overall vision of Clean Air 2025 is to reduce urban, industrial, and indoor air pollution and maintain air quality at desirable levels, minimising the emission of harmful air pollutants. This is to be achieved through an effective stakeholder participatory mechanism and by ensuring source identification, quantification, and monitoring of harmful air pollutants along with an appropriate regulatory framework. It recognises the need for research and development and capacity building in air quality management (AQM) assisted by sub-regional, regional and global linkages. It also highlights the importance of raising public awareness on air pollution, health, and other impacts and actions, including for related issues.

Measures

• Transport sector: Introduce Mass public transportation (BRT/MRT) systems; Improve quality and efficiency of the railway transport system; Use train for freight transport; Relocation of freight & container yards closer to expressway entry points & railway; Review of ongoing VET program & develop guidelines to effect corrective measures; Construction of Flyovers & underground tunnels to reduce traffic congestion; Introduce regulation, market-based instruments, guidelines for public parking and improve facilities for public parking proper efficient traffic planning system; promotion of driving habits; Encourage to use green vehicles with energy efficiency; Provide infrastructure for Electric/Hybrid vehicles; Promote electric vehicles for public transport; Implementation of fuel quality road map; Periodic review of vehicular emissions standard; Promote solar energy for electric vehicles; Upgrade existing oil refinery; Establish and maintain independent accredited fuel quality test laboratories; Promoting new investments in cleaner alternative fuel processing facilities through incentives; Creation of awareness.
• Energy and Industries: Strengthening the capacity of CEA and other related agencies in emission measuring and monitoring; Developing suitable projects/proposal/TAP(technical assistance programs) for implementing related activities; Collect baseline data on air emissions of stationary sources (key industries initially) and identify gaps in baseline data; Preparation of an implementation road map; Awareness creation and capacity building among stakeholders including industrialist on source emission standards; Introduce recognition and rewarding mechanism for pollution minimized industries; Policy interventions (Tax concession/ Financial assistance) for energy-efficient equipment, etc.; Financial assistance/technical assistance/incentives for emission control, testing, and standards implementation.
• Household Energy: Carry out baseline surveys; Develop guidelines on how to control indoor air quality management; Identify different types of buildings/locations that the guideline should be applied; Conduct pilot-scale indoor air pollution studies for major cities; Conduct exposure studies on a health impact assessment; Conduct awareness programs on methods to reduce indoor air pollution; Review the existing building regulations and incorporate indoor air quality guidelines
• Air Quality Monitoring: Develop a comprehensive proposal for ERD for Technical Assistant Programme; Carry out stocktaking of present air quality monitoring; Develop a comprehensive proposal for island-wide Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network including locations frequencies, Methodologies and parameters, and resources required and also including training and capacity building; Strengthen existing facilities and capacities in trans boundary monitoring; Implementation of a nation wise air quality monitoring mechanism.