The biggest air quality problem in developing countries is air pollution in urban areas. It is estimated that 800,000, people die prematurely each year from urban air pollution. Most of these premature deaths occur in developing countries. As vehicle traffic grows, the health and economic toll of poor air quality continues to mount on the most vulnerable of residents; women, children, and the elderly who live, play, walk and work on or close to congested urban highways.
Vehicle emissions are one of a number of contributing factors to poor urban air quality. In terms of the health impacts, four pollutants are of particular concern- particulate matter (PM), ozone, carbon monoxide (Co), and sulphur dioxides (SOx). Health effects associated with ambient particulate matter which can be inhaled deep into the lungs include premature death, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
NEMA and UNEP signed a small scale funding agreement to undertake national sensitization onlowsulphurfuelsandcleanerfuels. Theaimoftheprojectistoreducesulphurinvehicles fuels to 50 ppm or below worldwide, concurrent with clean vehicles and clean vehicles technologies, with roadmaps and timelines developed regionally and nationally.
Four workshops were conducted; three regional stakeholder workshops in Mombasa, Kisumu, Nairobi and one national policymakers workshop. This was as a result of the partnership forged between NEMA, UNEP and MVIU to sensitize the public on the harmful effects of high sulphur content in fuels dispensed at the main service outlets particularly those in the transport sector.
The objective was to engage the stakeholders to include low sulphur fuels and clean vehicles as part of sustainable air quality management in their future plans and operations and to seek co- operation and joint efforts in the deployment and application of newer emission control technologies that should substantially lower toxic emissions, by promoting the use of low sulfur fuels and recognizing that these fuels will continue to impact positively in our economy and environment.
I wish to acknowledge the contributions of UNEP, who funded the project, MVIU who were the key stakeholders of this project, other stakeholders, and the steering committee for supporting this exercise and made it a success. I also look forward to supporting further their efforts in ensuring that we have a cleaner and healthy environment for all.
DR. MUUSYA MWINZI DIRECTOR GENERAL