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Space applications for management of air pollution in Asia and the Pacific
Get PDFAir pollution is increasingly understood as a global issue, requiring an understanding of pollution sources, transport, and transformation from local to regional to global scales (IPCC, 2013). Polluting gases, such as ozone (O3) and aerosols, particularly PM 2.5, are known to be major risk factors for public health (Cohen and others, 2017; Brauer and others, 2016). Fine particulate matter, such as PM 2.5 and PM 10, have diameters that are smaller than 2.5 μm and 10 μm, respectively, and penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and respiratory infections. Tropospheric ozone, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) can irritate and damage the respiratory system, causing problems particularly to people with existing lung problems, such as asthma. Nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde, also react to create ozone, or photochemical smog, while SO2 and NO2 can contribute to forming particulate matter. According to a World Health Organization report (2014), air pollution in 2012 caused the premature deaths of around 7 million people worldwide. It was estimated that if the aerosol level could be reduced to the safety level, about 300,000 to 700,000 persons could be prevented from premature death in developing countries. Industry, transportation, coal power plants, and household solid fuel usage contribute significantly to air pollution. Air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate and affects economies and quality of life.</p
Implementation of the SDGs in Bangladesh : domestic challenges and regional considerations
Get PDFBangladesh made significant progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) winning global acclaim. It is expected that the country will be able to continue its success in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well. The SDGs represent a wider spectrum of highly interconnected goals and indicators, so they could pose new challenges for the country. Furthermore, many SDG targets are transnational in nature, transcending national boundaries. Achievement of those SDGs, will thus, depend on collaborative efforts at the regional and global levels. It is essential from Bangladesh’s perspective to understand how peaceful cooperation and prudent diplomacy among the South Asian countries can be conducive in achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic brought along with it a new set of challenges and a whole “new normal”. Given the significant setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that any South Asian country, or any country in the world, will be able to achieve all the SDGs by 2030. It is proposed that if South Asian countries focus on strengthening various types of connectivity, as identified in the five-connectivity model, they can accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, and reduce the adverse impacts of the pandemic in the region.</p
Situational assessment for household energy needs in Bhutan
Get PDFThe report presents household energy needs in Bhutan for cooking and for space heating. Space heating is an important form of energy access for Bhutan, as many households live in areas which are cold during the winter, notably those at higher elevations.
Access to electricity in Bhutan increased from 60 percent in 2006 to 100 percent in 2016.1 Rapid electrification, mainly via hydropower plants, has helped to shift fuel consumption away from traditional biomass. However, fuelwood still prevails in the residential sector, although its use has declined from 91% of the total residential 5 Situational Assessment for Household Energy Needs in Bhutan fuel mix in 2005 to 87% in 2014.2 The per capita consumption of fuel wood in Bhutan is one of the highest in the world and the continued reliance on firewood for cooking in rural Bhutan, where 70% of the population is living, adds to pressure on the forests of Bhutan.
This report was drafted based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Situational Assessment and Stakeholder Mapping with the Household Energy Assessment Rapid Tool (HEART). HEART is part of the Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST) developed by the WHO to promote clean and safe energy interventions in the home. CHEST is an analytical framework that contains tools for assessment of the current state of household energy use, air pollution and health impacts. The toolkit is intended to help professionals and policymakers implement the recommendations found in the WHO Guidelines on indoor air quality: household fuel combustion.</p
Energy transition pathways for the 2030 agenda : SDG 7 roadmap for Tonga
Get PDFTransitioning the energy sector to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the objectives of the Paris Agreement presents a complex and difficult task for policymakers. It needs to ensure sustained economic growth as well as respond to increasing energy demand, reduce emissions and, more importantly, consider and capitalize on the interlinkages between Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) and other SDGs. In this connection, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has developed the National Expert SDG Tool for Energy Planning (NEXSTEP). This tool enables policymakers to make informed policy decisions to support the achievement of the SDG 7 targets as well as emission reduction targets (NDCs). The initiative has been undertaken in response to the Ministerial Declaration of the Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (April 2018, Bangkok) and Commission Resolution 74/9, which endorsed its outcomes. NEXSTEP also garnered the support of the Committee on Energy in its Second Session, with recommendations to expand the number of countries being supported by this tool.
The Kingdom of Tonga has been one of the first countries in the Pacific to develop their SDG7 roadmap. The key objective of this SDG 7 roadmap is to assist the Government of Tonga develop enabling policy measures to achieve the targets of SDG 7. This roadmap contains a matrix of technological options and enabling policy measures for the Government to consider. It presents several scenarios that have been developed using national data, considering existing energy policies and strategies, and reflecting on other development plans. These scenarios are expected to enable the Government to make an informed decision to develop and implement a set of policies to achieve SDG 7 by 2030, together with NDC. The policy recommendations of the SDG7 roadmap will also contribute to the development of Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) Plus 2021-2035
Transport and communications bulletin for Asia and the Pacific. No. 40
No full textTransport and communications bulletin for Asia and the Far East. (0041-1396
