| Energy action for cleaner air

Chapter 3 | Energy action for cleaner air 97 3 Air pollution can be reduced, but has to be tackled from a variety of angles and by a variety of actors, so there is great value in establishing an overarching goal for air quality, to which all can subscribe, and against which the variety of pollution mitigation options can be assessed. This can be particularly important in countries undergoing rapid economic and social change, to ensure that short-term actions in fast-growing sectors are consistent with longer term objectives. An announced goal, accompanied by transparent availability of pollution data, can also provide a vital mechanism to win wider public awareness and acceptance, helping to keep air quality prominent on the policy agenda. An air quality goal can be expressed in both broad, qualitative terms and incorporate specific, quantitative and time-bound targets. An example of the former is enshrined in the European Union EU approach, which aims to achieve levels of air quality that do not result in unacceptable impacts on, and risks to, human health and the environment. Objectives that are so general in form need to be supplemented by goals that are more specific. These may take various forms, often focusing on an acceptable level of a given pollutant, a limit on the amount of a pollutant emitted by a source or a limit on the amount of a pollutant in a fuel or product; the limits can be graduated and tightened over time. National or sub-national goals may be complemented by those agreed at the international level, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, several of which have a direct or indirect link to air pollution, e.g. the SDGs on energy, good health and well-being, gender equality, and sustainable cities and communities. As examples from specific countries and regions demonstrate, the World Health Organization WHO Air Quality Guidelines provide a basis upon which to set long-term goals see Part B for country and regional profiles. The ultimate levels for pollutant concentrations prescribed in these guidelines may seem aspirational and even out of practical reach for some countries, given their starting points today. In such instances, it can be preferable to designate a goal that combines ambition with a strong dose of political realism as, once an idealistic target is deemed unachievable, its utility as a spur to practical policy action can quickly dissipate. In this connection, the WHO interim targets can be helpful in establishing more attainable milestones along the way towards an end-goal. Chi a’s Action Plan on Air Quality, for example, establishes a roadmap to reduce the natural mean annual concentration of particulate matter PM 2.5 1 in key cities to 35 micrometres per cubic metre μg 3 , which is the interim target-1 in the WHO guidelines. For household air pollution, the WHO Indoor Air Quality Guidelines also provide a valuable source of guidance regarding household fuel combustion and emissions in such settings WHO, 2014. In the Clean Air Scenario, countries around the world all achieve significant progress towards the WHO interim and guideline levels for PM 2.5 Figure 3.1. 1 Size is an important factor in determining the health impacts of PM: oarse parti les are et ee 2.5 and 10 micrometres µ i dia eter a d fi e parti les are s aller tha .5 µm. © OECDIEA, 2016 98 W o rld En er g y O ut lo o k 2 1 6 | Sp e c ial Re po rt Figure 3.1 ⊳ Share of population that meets WHO guideline and interim levels for PM 2.5 by country and scenario Note: NPS = New Policies Scenario; CAS = Clean Air Scenario. Sources: IEA; IIASA. This map is without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries, and to the name of any territory, city or area. 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 75 75 75 75 75 75 75 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Indonesia India South Africa China Brazil Mexico European Union Targets unmet 35 μgm 3 Interim target-1 2 25-3 μgm 3 Interim target-2 1 15-2 μgm 3 Interim target-3 1 10-1 μgm 3 Air quality guideline 10 μgm 3 2015 2040 NPS 2040 NPS 2040 NPS 2040 NPS 2040 NPS 2040 NPS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2040 CAS 2015 2015 2015 2015 2040 NPS 2015 2015 © OECDIEA, 2016 Chapter 3 | Energy action for cleaner air