Australia
Thematic Discussion: Integrated approach to addressing air pollution
and atmospheric problems
Comments from Australia ? 4 May 2006
· Australia has made significant progress in combating air pollution in our cities by
addressing fuel quality and emissions controls. Air pollution continues to
decrease with the implementation of progressive fuel quality standards for petrol,
automotive diesel, biodiesel and autogas. A standard for fuel ethanol is under
development.
· Standards are being tightened gradually, along with introducing incentives to
produce and import better quality fuels to reap early environmental benefits.
· Lower sulphur fuels mean much better air quality in Australia?s urban
environments and by 2020, the cleaner petrol and diesel program is expected to
save an estimated $AU3.4 billion in avoided health costs.
· From this base, Australia has been able to assist other nations in the Asia-Pacific
to address the barrier of capacity building in relation to fuel standards and
reducing pollution from motor vehicles.
· Australia hosted participants from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Vietnam and
Bangladesh for a Fuel Quality Strategy Training Workshop in 2003. This
workshop focused on improving fuel quality of gasoline and diesel as part of the
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities.
· This is an example of transfer of capacity from a highly developed country to
other countries where capacity building may be a significant barrier to progress in
managing air quality.
· Regular collection and analysis of pollutant monitoring data is another essential
component of effective domestic responses to atmospheric pollution. This
enables countries to identify both improvements in air quality and emerging
problems.
· Australia uses its National Pollutant Inventory and State of the Environment
Reporting initiatives for this purpose. These tools provide data and the necessary
contextual and interpretive material to aid understanding to enable government,
industry and the community to develop timely and effective responses.
· These tools are very useful in overcoming the barrier of limited public
engagement in responding to air quality concerns.
and atmospheric problems
Comments from Australia ? 4 May 2006
· Australia has made significant progress in combating air pollution in our cities by
addressing fuel quality and emissions controls. Air pollution continues to
decrease with the implementation of progressive fuel quality standards for petrol,
automotive diesel, biodiesel and autogas. A standard for fuel ethanol is under
development.
· Standards are being tightened gradually, along with introducing incentives to
produce and import better quality fuels to reap early environmental benefits.
· Lower sulphur fuels mean much better air quality in Australia?s urban
environments and by 2020, the cleaner petrol and diesel program is expected to
save an estimated $AU3.4 billion in avoided health costs.
· From this base, Australia has been able to assist other nations in the Asia-Pacific
to address the barrier of capacity building in relation to fuel standards and
reducing pollution from motor vehicles.
· Australia hosted participants from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Vietnam and
Bangladesh for a Fuel Quality Strategy Training Workshop in 2003. This
workshop focused on improving fuel quality of gasoline and diesel as part of the
Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities.
· This is an example of transfer of capacity from a highly developed country to
other countries where capacity building may be a significant barrier to progress in
managing air quality.
· Regular collection and analysis of pollutant monitoring data is another essential
component of effective domestic responses to atmospheric pollution. This
enables countries to identify both improvements in air quality and emerging
problems.
· Australia uses its National Pollutant Inventory and State of the Environment
Reporting initiatives for this purpose. These tools provide data and the necessary
contextual and interpretive material to aid understanding to enable government,
industry and the community to develop timely and effective responses.
· These tools are very useful in overcoming the barrier of limited public
engagement in responding to air quality concerns.
Stakeholders