Workshop on Soot-Free Buses in Asian Cities

The Diesel Initiative of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has undertaken a two-year project to secure commitments from 20 target cities to shift new bus purchases to soot-free emissions (equivalent to Euro VI levels). Bangkok, Dhaka, Manila, and Jakarta are targeted through this work. Each city in their own way is struggling to address the growing impacts of air pollution, motorization, and a growing population. Rapid investments in public transportation are attempting to respond to these needs, but without national emission standards that guarantee soot-free bus engines, we are likely to see investments in public transit contributing more and not less to air pollution and near-term climate change.

The International Council on Clean Transportation jointly with the UN Environment Programme are implementing this project on behalf of the CCAC Diesel Initiative. KPBB has partnered with us to organize an international workshop in Jakarta to establish the technical framework for Asian cities to establish a new procurement strategy, to guide public policy decisions around infrastructure investment, and to engage industry partners towards identifying common obstacles and opportunities to accelerate the deployment of soot-free buses.