Directions in Development - Environment and Sustainable Development

The extent of urban air pollution in Pakistan-South Asia's most urbanized country-is among the world's most severe, significantly damaging human health, quality of life, and the economy and environment of Pakistan. The harm from Pakistan's urban air pollution is among the highest in South Asia, exceeding several high-profile causes of mortality and morbidity in Pakistan. Improved air quality management (AQM) in Pakistan can have notable economic and health benefits. For example, the estimated health benefits per dollar spent on cleaner diesel are approximately US $1–1.5 for light-duty diesel vehicles and US $1.5–2.4 for large buses and trucks. This report advocates that Pakistan allocate resources to AQM, because its air quality is severely affecting millions of Pakistanis, and because experiences around the world indicate that interventions can significantly improve air quality. This report details a broad spectrum of research on Pakistan's AQM challenges, and identifies a comprehensive set of steps to improve air quality. The research presented here underpins the conclusions that addressing Pakistan's urban air pollution requires coordinated interventions to strengthen AQM, build agencies' institutional capacity, bolster AQM's legal and regulatory framework, implement policy reforms and investments, and fill knowledge gaps. However, Pakistan's policy makers face major obstacles, including limited financial, human, and technical resources, and can pursue only a few AQM interventions at the same time. In the short term, Pakistan's AQM should give highest priority to reducing pollutants linked to high morbidity and mortality: PM2.5 (and precursors like SOx and NOx) from mobile sources. A second-level short-term priority could be PM2.5, SOx, and emissions of toxic metals from stationary sources. An important medium-term priority should be mass transportation in major cities, controlling traffic, and restricting private cars during high-pollution episodes. A long-term priority could be taxing hydrocarbons, based on their contribution to greenhouse gases.

Bringing together a large set of data and building on two years of consultations in Vietnam with Government counterparts, research organizations, state-owned enterprises, private sector and Vietnam international development partners, the report formulates two scenarios to explore and analyze Vietnam's options up to the year 2030: a business as usual and a low carbon development scenario. Based on a thorough data modeling effort for the key carbon emitting sectors of Vietnam, the report also provides some policy guidance for the Government's consideration. This report is also unique as it brings together and presents data on multiple sectors of Vietnam's economy, making this information available for future reference. This effort is the result of two years of collaboration with the Government of Vietnam as part of the Vietnam Low Carbon Options Assessment technical assistance. By highlighting several economic opportunities and clarifying the issues at hand, this work is a milestone in this complex debate and I believe will help all stakeholders willing to consider and responsible to design the policies and measures to address those challenges.