Air pollution and climate change tackling both problems in tandem

Scientists and policy makers should no longer treat air pollution and climate change as distinct problems, because the two are very closely related. The recent Workshop on Linkages and Synergies of Regional and Global Emission Control, organized under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), looked at the numerous links between these two policy areas. It concluded that these links are so important that they merit close cooperation.

Air pollution affects the regional and global climate both directly and indirectly. Ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere contributes to global warming even more than some greenhouse gases included in the Kyoto Protocol, and particulate matter in the atmosphere also has important climate impacts. However, although black carbon, or soot particles, has a warming effect, other particles, for instance sulphates and nitrates, may cool the climate. The current high levels of sulphates and nitrates mask the effects of climate change to some degree. Through cuts in sulphur and nitrogen emissions necessary to protect human health and the environment the climate impacts of the greenhouse gases may actually show more quickly. On the other hand, measures to cut black carbon emissions, for instance from diesel combustion, will have double benefits, protecting both human health locally and also the climate regionally and worldwide.

Methane has a direct negative impact on climate (it is one of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases) and it contributes to ground-level ozone levels. Methane emissions (mainly from agriculture, energy and waste management) have grown very rapidly since pre-industrial times. Cutting these emissions will reduce health- and ecosystem-damaging ozone levels and reduce the extent of climate change.

While indications of the climate impacts of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations can already be seen in the rise of mean temperatures and the increase in the numbers of extreme climate events (floods and droughts), most impacts are likely to happen over the next 50-100 years. Some gases, like carbon dioxide, stay in the atmosphere for a very long time, so measures to reduce emissions only start to show an effect after a few decades. In contrast, ozone, black carbon and methane can be controlled to show effects much sooner (10-20 years). Cutting these pollutants could help reduce some climate impacts while waiting for longer-term measures to pay off.

Besides such links between atmospheric effects, there is also a strong link between the sources of emissions. Energy production and transport are responsible for most CO2 emissions and much of the air pollution. Cutting energy consumption and car use will therefore have double benefits. Synergies can also be found in agriculture: cutting ammonia emissions could lead to an increase of some greenhouse gas emissions, but the same reduction levels can also be achieved by an integrated strategy that will even cut some of the greenhouse gases.

The UNECE Conventions Centre for Integrated Assessment Modelling, run by IIASA, estimates that the cost of reaching the 2010 air pollution objectives in the Conventions Gothenburg Protocol could be reduced by at least 5 billion if European countries cut CO2 emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol (without CO2 trading). Similar results have been found for China or Mexico.

While closely related, air pollution and climate change have mostly been treated as separate problems. At the international level, efforts under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution have helped cut air pollution levels in Europe. Sulphur emissions are 60% lower than in 1980, nitrogen oxides are down by 25% compared to 1990 and other pollutants are also starting to decline. At the global scale the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has brought together more than 180 countries to agree on measures to combat climate change. More needs to be done, both to bring air pollution down to safe levels and to cut greenhouse gas emissions to halt climate change.

Taking certain climate change measures will yield additional benefits through improved local and regional air quality. Certain air pollution abatement measures will also help protect the regional and global climate. Much, though not all, is known about such links, but systematic studies are lacking. The UNECE Conventions Cooperative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) has begun to integrate these links into its assessment so that measures to further cut air pollution will lead to win-win situations. It is also seeking cooperation with scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to move this work forward.

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Verification of Street Canyon Model for Predicting Air Pollutan Concentration to Transportation Way at Surabaya

By : Okik Hendriyanto Cahyonugroho

ABSTRACT

In predicting of carbon monoxide concentrations (CO) coming from emission of gas throw away motor vehicle in Pahlawan street of Surabaya used by street canyon model by Hassan and Crowther. Parameter estimation and model verification conducted accomodatedly model to data of concentration measurement of CO in field measurement. Street canyon model by Hassan and Crowther cannot be applied directly for predicting of rate of CO ambien at Pahlawan street of street canyon typical. This matter caused by model not include stability factor of atmosphere into its so that happened by deviation between rate of CO measured and CO model.

Keywords : pollutant estimation, pollutant concentration, street canyon model, verification model

ABSTRAK

Dalam memprediksi konsentrasi karbon monoksida (CO) yang berasal dari emisi gas buang kendaraan bermotor di jalan Pahlawan Surabaya digunakan model street canyon oleh Hassan dan Crowther. Estimasi parameter dan verifikasi model dilakukan dengan menyesuaikan model terhadap data pengukuran konsentrasi CO di lapangan, Model street canyon Hassan dan Crowther tidak dapat diterapkan secara langsung untuk memprediksi kadar CO ambien pada jalan Pahlawan yang bertipikal street canyon. Hal ini disebabkan karena model street canyon Hassan dan Crowther tidak memasukkan faktor stabilitas atmosfer ke dalamnya sehingga terjadi simpangan antara kadar CO terukur dan CO model.

Kata kunci : Estimasi parameter, konsentrasi polutan, model street canyon, verifikasi model

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Control of SO2 Pollutan at Industrial Area in Sub-Province of Mojokerto

Okik Hendriyanto Cahyonugroho

ABSTRACT

SO₂ gaseous represent stable and source of dominant pollutant emitted at industrial process. This research aimed to studied the level of contamination of air in industrial area that effected by SO₂ gaseous. So that expected can formulate the strategy of air pollutant management effectivelly. The result of measurement of concentration of SO₂ on the air ambien obtained concentration 27,61 µ gram / m³. Pollutant from source of emission in industrial area is only happened in local scale, but environmental risk remain to be high because location of nearby industry with area of resident settlement. The strategy of management consist of monitoring and also controlling. With existence of the operation and monitoring, hence the negative impact of industrial existence and its development to environmental quality and socialize vinicity earn to be minimized

Keyword : SO₂ pollutant, level of contamination, monitoring, controlling

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