1.Clean Air Network 2. Hong Kong’s air pollution problem 3. Roadside pollution 4. Air pollution’s health impacts 5. Government action

Why now? The Government announced its intention to revise Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectives for the first time in 20 years in July NOW is a precious window of opportunity to influence air quality policy.

How serious is Hong Kong’s air pollution problem?

SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT HONG KONG AIR POLLUTION

In 2006, Hong Kong had just 41 days of healthy, breathable, air and just 30 days on which it was safe to do sport outdoors. SOURCE: HKUST DID YOU KNOW ?

Storm OUR AIR IS… worse than 1.7×1.7× worse than Singapore 1.3×1.3× Tokyo New York 3×3× worse than

When it comes to health, the main problem is roadside pollution, not Guangdong 40% of roadside emissions come from BUSES When it comes to health,

Tuen Mun Power plants Landfill trucks Ship emissions Cross-border trucks in the Northern New Territories (NNT) Cross-border traffic is getting heavier because of closer cooperation between Hong Kong and China; this results in deteriorating air quality in NNT. The cross-border trucks are particularly responsible for roadside emissions as many of them use cheap but extremely dirty diesel from mainland China. In Jan-Nov 2009, there were 7 million trucks crossing the border from the mainland out of the total cross-border traffic volume of 13.5 million! The Sheung Shui district has relatively cleaner air due to low density development, but for those who live near the China-Hong Kong highways, air pollution is still very high. Multiple issues in Tung Chung The construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the predictable increase in vehicle emissions from cross-border traffic Air pollution generated by the Hong Kong International Airport Power plant emissions from Tuen Mun Regional pollution from the Pearl River Delta Nearby shipping routes Kwai Chung Shipping terminal Roadside pollution in urban areas The volume of traffic flow in commercial areas in Hong Kong is staggering, but the threat of roadside emissions to personal health is always understated by EPD’s roadside air quality monitoring stations because the current AQOs permit 2-4 times more air pollutants than WHO recommended levels. A HKUST study showed that the NO2 levels at Hennessey Road, Wanchai were the highest, while the NO2 levels at Des Voeux Road, Central were the second highest amongst all the streets in Hong Kong. In addition, the number of high pollution days was 37- fold higher in Yau Tsim Mong in 2009 than in 2005! Pedestrianization and low emission zone measures (with commercial vehicles Euro III or below prohibited from entering the zone) have been proposed to reduce emissions in the district. With only 3 roadside monitoring stations in Causeway Bay, Central and Yau Tsim Mong, the roadside pollution situations in Tuen Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Kwun Tong, etc. are always neglected by the Government despite the fact they are very serious indeed. Landfill truck pollution in Tseung Kwan O (TKO) and the New Territories Apart from the odors from the landfill, which are already a considerable nuisance, the huge number of polluting trucks carrying waste inevitably pass through TKO’s city centre, producing a lot of roadside pollution in the district. In addition, with the completion of a new high-rise residential complex, the pollutants within the district are now trapped due to the canyon effect, making an already problematic situation worse. One can also easily spot these polluting trucks on Sha Tau Kok Road as this is the main way to the NWNT Landfill in Ta Kwu Ling; therefore residents in Tuen Mun are also invariably affected by the NWNT Landfill.

THE GREATEST THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH ROADSIDE POLLUTION

THE GREATEST THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH Vehicle emissions pose the greatest threat to our health. Which is worse? One ton of pollution from a power plant or one ton of pollution coming out of tailpipes from cars driving around Causeway Bay?

75% of buses are OLD and DIRTY (pre-Euro, Euro I and Euro II standard)* About 5% of the buses have adopted Euro IV standard* Euro V is currently the cleanest diesel engine standard, but only 1% of buses in Hong Kong are retrofitted to Euro V standard in the meantime (Jan 2010). Given the current rates of retirement, bus companies will still run polluting fleets over the next 20 years. Hong Kong's franchised bus fleet

Comparison of Pre-Euro and IV emissions

在新加坡， 20% 的 巴士採用新型較少 污染的引擎 ( 歐盟 IV 期或以上 ) ，但是 香港只有約 1% 由 2012 年起，倫 敦會有新的混合動 力巴士；所有舊的 的士不能續牌；舊 小巴每天要付費進 入市中心 20% 的北京巴士採 用天然氣，香港卻 一架也沒有。當局 更每天禁止 20% 的 私家車於路面行駛， 又不容許貨車進入 市區

In Singapore, 20% of buses have adopted newer and less polluting engines (i.e. Euro IV or above) while Hong Kong has only about 1%. 20% of Beijing’s buses run on natural gas while HK does not have any. Beijing adopts a rigorous clean air policy by banning 1 in 5 cars on roads and forbidding all trucks from entering the city. From 2012 onwards, London will have a new hybrid bus fleet; old cabs will not be given licenses and old vans and mini- buses will have to pay a daily fee to enter the city centre.

THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF HONG KONG AIR POLLUTION

WHO IS AFFECTED? During days with high air pollution, more people with asthma, chronic lung diseases or heart diseases seek medical help or are admitted to hospitals because their conditions worsen. Air pollution causes SEVERAL THOUSAND PREMATURE DEATHS A YEAR in HK. EVERYONE. People living in polluted areas die 2 or 3 years earlier than people living in cleaner environments. CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SICK are most vulnerable to air pollution.

HOW DOES AIR POLLUTION AFFECT THE BODY? Tiny particles and gases move deep into our lungs and bloodstream, damaging and inflaming lung and vascular tissue: Makes it easier for us to get sick Over time, air pollution can cause PERMANENT ADVERSE CHANGES to our lungs, just like smoking. A small INCREASE IN LUNG CANCER RISK has also been reported as a result of living in heavily polluted cities.

HEALTH IMPACTS ON CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS Pregnant mothers exposed to high levels of roadside pollution had kids with lower IQs. Developing lungs are more vulnerable: Children breathe faster and tend to spend more time outdoors being active. Thus, air pollution affects them much more. Children living in areas with heavy traffic have more chest problems, such as lung infections and asthma, than those living in cleaner environments.

You CAN make a difference!

Things You CAN Do to help us clean up the air in HK: DONATE COMMUNICATE OR WRITE TO POLITICIANS ASSIST TO CONDUCT PETITION SIGN-UP INVITE CAN TO EDUCATE YOUR COMPANY OR OFFICE EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR CLEAN AIR TO MEDIA

CAN is encouraging Hong Kongers to speak out about air pollution by SIGNING OUR PETITION “Air pollution is Hong Kong’s most serious public health crisis, killing over 1,100 people every year. I urge the government to improve our air quality until pollution is no longer a significant threat to our health.”