of megacities in the region increases the likelihood of environmental and social
stresses. Rapid increases in urbanization are also occurring in Latin America and
Africa, albeit rather more slowly compared with Asia. However, it is worth noting
that the percentage of the population in urban areas is still highest in North
America and Europe.
Increasing populations inevitably mean increased use of motor vehicles.
Unlike European and American cities in the 1950s, motor vehicles now account
for the major share of pollutant emissions in cities such as Delhi (57%), Beijing
(75%), Manila (70%) and Kuala Lumpur (86%). The Asia and Pacific region
experienced an increase in vehicle numbers of 40% between 1980 and 1995. This
represents a greater rate of increase than in North America, though not as large as
increases experienced in Europe. If current rates of expansion continue there will
be more than 1000 million vehicles on the road world-wide by 2025.
Trends in Sources and Emissions of Pollution
Air pollution from industry has increased in a number of developing countries.
Although the sizes of industrial plants have tended to be relatively small by
industrialized country standards, the cumulative effect of many small industrial
sources of pollution is considerable. In addition, the displacement of polluting
industries to countries where less emphasis is placed on emission control could
cause significant regional problems in the future.
The growth in energy demand in recent decades has been particularly marked
in rapidly industrializing countries and regions. Between 1990 and 1993 Asia’s
energy consumption grew by 6.2% per annum, whilst the global energy
consumption fell by 1%. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 41% of world
coal consumption in 1993 and large power plants are the greatest contributors
to sulfur dioxide pollution in many developing country regions. Figure 9 shows
that at the same time as SO
emissions have been decreasing in Europe and
North America, the increased combustion of fossil fuels in Asia has resulted in
increased SO
emissions; these trends are projected to continue over the next
decades.
If developing countries follow a conventional development path, with the
heavy reliance on coal and oil, with convergence of the use of control measures to
OECD 1995 levels by 2025, large increases in emissions of SO
and NO V
will
result in some regions. As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the largest increases would
be seen in China and South and South-East Asia.
Increasing populations and changing eating patterns necessitate expansion in
the agricultural sector with increases in animal numbers and fertilizer use. Figure
World Resources Institute, World Resources 1994—1995, A Joint Report by WRI, UNEP and
UNDP, Oxford University Press, New York, 1994.
N. Abdul Rahim, General problems associated with air pollution in developing countries, in Air
Pollution and the Forests of Developing and Rapidly Industrializing Countries, eds. J. L. Innes and
A. H. Haron, IUFRO Research Series 4, CABI Publishing, Oxon., UK, 2000.
ADB, Emerging Asia: Changes and Challenges. Asian Development Bank, Manila, The Philippines,
1997.
EIA, International Energy Annual: 1993, Energy Information Agency, US Department of Energy,
Washington, DC, 1995.
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
37
stresses. Rapid increases in urbanization are also occurring in Latin America and
Africa, albeit rather more slowly compared with Asia. However, it is worth noting
that the percentage of the population in urban areas is still highest in North
America and Europe.
Increasing populations inevitably mean increased use of motor vehicles.
Unlike European and American cities in the 1950s, motor vehicles now account
for the major share of pollutant emissions in cities such as Delhi (57%), Beijing
(75%), Manila (70%) and Kuala Lumpur (86%). The Asia and Pacific region
experienced an increase in vehicle numbers of 40% between 1980 and 1995. This
represents a greater rate of increase than in North America, though not as large as
increases experienced in Europe. If current rates of expansion continue there will
be more than 1000 million vehicles on the road world-wide by 2025.
Trends in Sources and Emissions of Pollution
Air pollution from industry has increased in a number of developing countries.
Although the sizes of industrial plants have tended to be relatively small by
industrialized country standards, the cumulative effect of many small industrial
sources of pollution is considerable. In addition, the displacement of polluting
industries to countries where less emphasis is placed on emission control could
cause significant regional problems in the future.
The growth in energy demand in recent decades has been particularly marked
in rapidly industrializing countries and regions. Between 1990 and 1993 Asia’s
energy consumption grew by 6.2% per annum, whilst the global energy
consumption fell by 1%. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for 41% of world
coal consumption in 1993 and large power plants are the greatest contributors
to sulfur dioxide pollution in many developing country regions. Figure 9 shows
that at the same time as SO
emissions have been decreasing in Europe and
North America, the increased combustion of fossil fuels in Asia has resulted in
increased SO
emissions; these trends are projected to continue over the next
decades.
If developing countries follow a conventional development path, with the
heavy reliance on coal and oil, with convergence of the use of control measures to
OECD 1995 levels by 2025, large increases in emissions of SO
and NO V
will
result in some regions. As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the largest increases would
be seen in China and South and South-East Asia.
Increasing populations and changing eating patterns necessitate expansion in
the agricultural sector with increases in animal numbers and fertilizer use. Figure
World Resources Institute, World Resources 1994—1995, A Joint Report by WRI, UNEP and
UNDP, Oxford University Press, New York, 1994.
N. Abdul Rahim, General problems associated with air pollution in developing countries, in Air
Pollution and the Forests of Developing and Rapidly Industrializing Countries, eds. J. L. Innes and
A. H. Haron, IUFRO Research Series 4, CABI Publishing, Oxon., UK, 2000.
ADB, Emerging Asia: Changes and Challenges. Asian Development Bank, Manila, The Philippines,
1997.
EIA, International Energy Annual: 1993, Energy Information Agency, US Department of Energy,
Washington, DC, 1995.
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems
37