Change in Temperature per ton of CO2?

In Science Daily, June 11th, 2009, Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University's Department of Geography, Planning and the Environment found a direct relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. Matthews, together with colleagues from Victoria and the U.K., used a combination of global climate models and historical climate data to show that there is a simple linear relationship between total cumulative emissions and global temperature change.

Road Particles Pose Higher "Health Risk"

BBC ran an article on June 9th, 2009, "Road particles (PM) pose higher health risk". In a growing number of cities, especially in the developing countries, along the major roads, the contribution of the transport sector is the main culprit. However, the city as a whole, it is important that a holistic picture and understanding of the sources (including the domestic and industrial) is established before a decision is made on the contribution (source apportionment).

For example, during the 2008 Olympics, the city of Beijing, did not achieve the reductions in the air pollution levels by halving the on road vehicular fleet alone. This was achieved only in conjunction with closing down a number of small and large industrial sites in and around the city.

Now, the long range transport plays a critical role. The transport emissions are ground based and tend to increase the local concentrations significantly. However, the industrial sources also contribute to farther distances. For pollutants like SO2, the transport quotient is higher than the coarse PM and this was also evident in Beijing during the games.

On one side, the visibility of the growing transport sector creates an atmospheric cloud that multiples its contribution, while the industries contribute significantly in packets of puff and contribute to farther distances.

Since the people spend more time on the roads, because of traveling or due to sitting in a congestion zone, people tend to experience the most of the air pollution along the roads and thus conclude that the contribution of transport as the main culprit. However, quantifying the contribution of the transport sector is a challenge, not only for the researchers (studying the satellite evidence earlier), but also the policy makers to propose effective measures encompassing multiple sectors.

Previous posts on transport emissions, air pollution, and health

• Emissions and co-benefits of urban transport in India
• Reports on particulate pollution source apportionment in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
• Population and pollution in urban Africa, Asia, and Latin America
• Cost of No-action on air pollution management
• 2 Wheels and 2 Legs are greener in a city
• Estimating road dust resuspension for air pollution modeling
• Mortality due to air pollution
• Average vehicular emission factors for emissions inventory development
• New BRT guide for decision makers and applications in India
• The Tata Nano Car is...
• You want me to Walk?
  

Emissions & Co-Benefits of Urban Transport in India (SIM Series)

The SIM 24-2009, "Motorized Passenger Travel in Urban India: Emissions & Co-benefits Analysis" paper presents the emissions analysis of the motorized “in-city” passenger travel from twenty cities in India, covering

• the current trends in four modes of transport (passenger cars, motorcycles, 3 wheelers, and buses)
• estimated energy consumption for the assumed growth patterns, and
  
• possible co-benefits of three combined scenarios (public transport, policy reforms, and non-motorized transport).
  

The cities included in this analysis are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Agra, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jaipur, Surat, Pondicherry, Bhubaneswar, Panaji, Patna, Kochi, Nagpur, and Guwahati.

Some figures from the report (click on the images to enlarge view).

1. Illustration of travel demand


2. Increase in the number of secondary and tertiary cities in India


3. Enhanced passenger travel from the satellite cities in National Capital Region of Delhi, India


4. Projected PM and CO2 Emissions from the 20 cities


5. Estimated benefits of three interventions (Public transport, norms, non-motorized transport)


Emissions estimates and projection details are presented for individual cities in the report. Details @ www.urbanemissions.info

Air Pollution Alerts - June 7th, 2009

News & Information; Every Sunday (Last on May 31, 2009)

AFP, June 6th, 2009
China considering environmental tax.

Economic Times (India), June 6th, 2009
Rapid urbanisation leading to air pollution in Lucknow.

British Columbia Local News, June 6th, 2009
Heat cooks ozone soup.

Taipei News, June 5th, 2009
Global environment cannot wait.

Santiago Times, June 5th, 2009
Air Pollution at Dangerous Levels in Chile's Region IX.

Sindh Today, June 5th, 2009
National action plan on climate change is in place in India.

Thaindian News, June 5th, 2009
Activists march to spread awareness on World Environment Day.

The New Nation, June 5th, 2009

Dhaka has made little use of CDM.

Republica, June 5th, 2009
It matters to us and to the 1.5 billion people in Asia.

All Africa, June 5th, 2009
Ghana: World Bank Project Suffers Hitch.

BBC, June 5th, 2009
Peru smelter pollution at crisis point.

Science Daily, June 5th, 2009
First Climate-based Model To Predict Dengue Fever Outbreaks.

Science Daily, June 5th, 2009
How Humans Have Disrupted The Nitrogen Cycle.

Reuters, June 5th, 2009
UK set to cut carbon emissions 23 percent by 2010.

Earth Times, June 5th, 2009
Strategic Analysis of the Industrial Air Pollution Control Equipment Market in Vietnam.

MSNBC, June 4th, 2009
Cell phones allow everyone to be a scientist.

Reuters, June 4th, 2009
China says pollution down despite spending spurt.

Industrial News Room, June 4th, 2009
Why Clean Air Need Not Come at the Expense of Hot and Cold Air.

Brookings, June 4th, 2009
Challenges and Opportunities for U.S-China Cooperation on Climate Change.

Science Daily, June 4th, 2009
All The Carbon Counts: Including Land-based Carbon In Greenhouse Gas Control Strategies Lowers Costs And Preserves Forests.

Science Daily, June 4th, 2009
Bioenergy Makes Heavy Demands On Scarce Water Supplies.

Center for American Progress, June 4th, 2009
China Begins Its Transition to a Clean-Energy Economy.

Economist, June 4th, 2009
Australia's carbon-emissions trading scheme - Coal from Newcastle.

Reuters, June 4th, 2009
Carbon capture boom unlikely across China.

Guardian, June 4th, 2009
Barack Obama seeks US-Chinese deal on global warming.

Ottawa Start, June 3rd, 2009
Air Quality Health Index a breath of fresh air for Ottawa, Gatineau.

Guardian, June 3rd, 2009
Learning to live with climate change will not be enough.

Canada Free Press, June 3rd, 2009
The Facts about Air Pollution from Coal-Fired Power Plants.

Ottawa Start, June 3rd, 2009
City encourages residents to travel ‘greener’ on Clean Air Day.

Economic Times (India), June 3rd, 2009
Fuel economy standards for cars get PMO green signal.

The Province, June 3rd, 2009
Fraser Valley smog alert issued as air pollution takes toll.

Earth Times, June 3rd, 2009
Canada Celebrates Clean Air Day.

Reuters, June 3rd, 2009
U.S. envoy sees climate partnership with China.

Reuters, June 3rd, 2009
China cuts sulphur dioxide, water pollution in '08.

Center for American Progress, June 3rd, 2009
Climate Progress in China.

Economic Times (India), June 2nd, 2009
Agra launches anti-pollution campaign.

Economic Times (India), June 2nd, 2009
Russia to raise cross-border pollution with China.

Financial Times, June 2nd, 2009
Feeling the heat.

Harvard Crimson, June 2nd, 2009
Time for Cohort Studies in Africa.

New York Times, June 2nd, 2009
Analysis Finds Elevated Risk From Soot Particles in the Air.

BBC, June 2nd, 2009
Climate chief's pledge on energy.

Macau Hub, June 2nd, 2009
Mozambique: Vale’s coal-fired power station in Moatize to produce 1,800 megawatts of electricity.

Press Information Bureau India, June 2nd, 2009
States place orders for purchase of 7815 buses under JNNURM.

Scientific American, June 2nd, 2009
Top Air Pollution Official Finally Confirmed.

New York Times, June 1st, 2009
Tweak the Planet to Curb Warming? Not Yet.

Wired, June 1st, 2009
Somebody was bound to put the boot into GM, and it might as well be him.

Los Angeles Times, June 1st, 2009
Bill aims to keep emission-reduction efforts local.

Bloomberg, June 1st, 2009
Hong Kong Air Pollution Is ‘Very High’ in All Roadside Stations.

Economist, June 1st, 2009
Europe trims GHG emissions.

The Spec, June 1st, 2009
Pollution's toll $750 million in region in Hamilton.

Times of India, May 31st, 2009
A-C buses: Decision hinges on affordability in Pune, India.

Eurek Alert, May 31st, 2009
Can environmental pollutants and alcohol affect GI health?

AFP, May 29th, 2009
ADB calls for low-carbon transport systems.

New York Times, May 28th, 2009
Bike Messenger.

All Africa, May 25th, 2009
Nigeria: Country Shut Out of U.S. $40 Billion Carbon Trade.

Environmental Science & technology, May 20th, 2009
Breathing less easily with ultrafine particles.

WBCSD, May 20th, 2009
Cement makers eye big cuts to greenhouse gases.

Vancouver Sun, May 19th, 2009
Big Oil teams up with Big Timber for next biofuel breakthrough.

Science Daily, February 13th, 2009
Seeing The Forest And The Trees Helps Cut Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.

Photochemistry of Air Pollution in Delhi (SIM Series)

In the SIM 25-2009 working paper, "Photochemistry of Air Pollution in Delhi, India: A Monitoring Based Analysis", the monitoring data from the Indian Tax Office (ITO) station in Delhi, India, (operated by the Central Pollution Control Board) is analyzed to explain the observed trends in the criteria pollutants, PM2.5, NOx, CO, and Ozone. The photochemical formation of Ozone, including the seasonal and diurnal cycles, influence of NOx-VOC chemistry and policy implications of further controls is discussed in this paper.

Figures below present the correlation between the observed monthly 24-hr averages over the period of 2006-09. The measurements for the summer months are separated.



Figure below present the correlation between the observed hourly concentrations, to analyze the diurnal variations. The hourly averages are obtained over the entire 2008.


The last figure presents the photostationary state during the day time. For details on the photochemical analysis and information on the monitoring data, refer to the working paper @ www.urbanemissions.info

Also see

• Air quality forecasting system in Delhi
• Monitoring what we want to manage and mapping urban air pollution in Delhi
• Air Quality Index (AQI) examples across the world cities
• Urban passenger travel statistics in India
• Why ban autorickshaws in Delhi?
• How to Estimate Transport Modal Shares Using Minimum Information - Case Study of Delhi
• Air pollution and health benefits of metro system in Delhi
• Air pollution in Delhi
• Beijing to Delhi - Traffic problems highlighted
• Need to push for public transport in India

Urban Passenger Travel Statistics in India

The Ministry of Urban Development published the report on "Transport Strategies for Urban India" in May 2008. The urban passenger travel statistics presented in the reported are graphed here. The key messages are

• As the cities grew, access to the work places in less than 15 mins travel time decreases
• As the cities grew, the share of public transport in the form of buses (percent of passenger trips) increases
• As the cities grew, the share of non-motorized transport (NMT) in the form of walking and biking (percent of passenger trips) decreases
• As the cities grew, the share of para-transit mostly remained constant; biased higher in the bigger cities
  
• Lower the share of non-motorized transport in the city, lower the service index (% trips accessible in less than 15 mins travel time)
• Lower the share of NMT in the city, higher the congestion index, primarily due increase in the personal transport

Full report - "SIM-air Series 24-2009: 20 city case studies".

Click on the images to enlarge view. The population is plotted on a log scale.







Also see

• National Urban Transport Policy by MoUD
  
• National Auto Fuel Policy of India by GoI
  
• Public Transportation in India by ITDP
• Transport for Livable Cities: A Symposium on the Problems of Urban Transport (Seminar, November, 2007)
• Reducing Air Pollution from Urban Transport by the World Bank
• Reducing Vehicle Emissions in Asia by Asian Development Bank
• EE and CC Considerations for On-Road Transport in Asia by Asian Development Bank

Reports on Particulate Pollution Source Apportionment

As part of the SIM Series, three reports presenting the available information on the particulate source apportionment techniques and applications around the world are

• What is Particulate Matter (PM) - Composition & Science? (November, 2008)
  
• Urban PM Pollution Source Apportionment - Part 1: Definition, Methodology, and Resources (February, 2009)
  
• Urban PM Pollution Source Apportionment - Part 2: Applications Results and Policy Implications (June, 2009)
  

Also see

• World Development Indicators
• Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling by Prof. Mark Jacobson
• PM Research by USEPA
  
• Chemistry and Modeling Activities at NARSTO
• Calculator for fugitive dust emissions - v-dust
• Urban Air Pollution Analysis in Ulaanbaatar - Report
• Summaries of air pollution analysis from cities around the world
  
• Haze pollution in Asia
  
• Overseas Pollution Hitting US - Science Daily
  
• Health Impacts of PM Exposure by USEPA
• Cost of Pollution in China by the World Bank
• Role of Aerosols in Climate Change - Science Daily
  
• Black Carbon Emerges as a Major Player - Science Daily
• Review of Source Apportionment Studies
• Air Impacts
• Air Pollution in Megacities - Molina Center at MIT
• Air Pollution as Climate Forcing - NASA

Environment in Motion - Clean Entertainment

Air Pollution Alerts - May 31st, 2009

News & Information; Every Sunday (Last on May 24, 2009)

Himal South Asian Journal, June 1st, 2009
Black to green: The carbon debate and beyond.

SEI, 2009
A Balancing Act: China’s Role in Climate Change.

Inhabitat, May 30th, 2009
ECO ART: Plastic Bottle Installation in NYC.

The Star Online, May 30th, 2009
The haze is back in Petaling Jaya, Indonesia.

Scientific American, May 29th, 2009
Climate Change Hits Poor Hardest in U.S.

Economist, May 29th, 2009
Climate Change, go on, guess.

Reuters, May 29th, 2009
U.S. says rich nations likely to miss carbon targets.

Reuters, May 29th, 2009
Climate change causes 315,000 deaths a year.

Reuters, May 29th, 2009
India to quantify climate benefits from poverty project.

Guardian, May 29th, 2009
Climate change toll is crucial evidence.

Guardian, May 29th, 2009
This silent suffering - IPCC Chairman.

New York Times, May 29th, 2009
Climate Shift Brings Deaths.

Jakarta Post, May 29th, 2009
Jakarta to celebrate anniversary with clean air campaign.

Colorado, May 28th, 2009
Alerts signal start of ozone season.

Green Leap Frog, May 28th, 2009
China and U.S. Not As Far Apart As Each Other Thinks.

Science Daily, May 28th, 2009
The Coming Of Biofuels: Study Shows Reducing Gasoline Emissions Will Benefit Human Health.

XinhuaNet, May 28th, 2009
Australian mining magnate announces huge coal deal with China.

Science Daily, May 28th, 2009
All The Carbon Counts: Including Land-based Carbon In Greenhouse Gas Control Strategies Lowers Costs And Preserves Forests.

Bright Hub, May 28th, 2009
Air Pollution Threatens the Health of Children in China.

Guardian, May 28th, 2009
Moscow's new interest in climate change.

China Dialogue, May 28th, 2009
The Future of Carbon Trading.

National Academy Press, May 28th, 2009
Rising Air Pollution Increases Health Risks.

WV PBS, May 28th, 2009
Air pollution in West Virginia: what you can’t see could hurt you.

Oil & Gas Journal, May 28th, 2009
New EIA international outlook sees more use of unconventional sources.

Center for American Progress, May 27th, 2009
Counting the Real Progress on Climate Action.

New York Times, May 27th, 2009
China Is Said to Plan Strict Gas Mileage Rules.

Guardian, May 27th, 2009
Stern breaks the east-west deadlock on who's responsible for CO2.

Guardian, May 27th, 2009
The climate change debate is not a simple battle of good and evil.

Science Daily, May 26th, 2009
Global Responsibility To Help Vulnerable Communities Adapt.

PhysOrg.Com, May 26th, 2009
Higher summer ozone concentrations in Atlanta, US.

Recorder, May 26th, 2009
Bill wants to ban some agriculture burning.

Bike Europe, May 26th, 2009
European Cities Commit to Cycling.

Asia Sentinal, May 25th, 2009
Manila: The City that Might Have Been.

New Wales, May 24th, 2009
Air pollution kills 1,200 a year in Wales, UK.

Los Angeles Times, May 24th, 2009
Dust storms speed snowmelt in the West.

Science Daily, May 24th, 2009
How Solid Is Concrete's Carbon Footprint?

Reuters, May 24th, 2009
U.N.'s Ban urges business to back climate policies.

Guardian, May 24th, 2009
America's new green guru sparks anger over climate change U-turns.

Guardian, May 24th, 2009
Climate change summit hijacked by biggest polluters.

New York Times, may 24th, 2009
With Billions at Stake, Trying to Expand the Meaning of ‘Renewable Energy’.

Online Athens, May 23rd, 2009
Fuel-economy rules good for automakers.

TIME, May 22nd, 2009
Greens Celebrate Cap-and-Trade Victory — Cautiously.

China Dialogue, May 22nd, 2009
Assessing European climate policy.

NPR, May 22nd, 2009
Climate Change Bill Heads For House Vote.

Encyclopedia of Earth, May 19th, 2009
Population growth rates by country.

Environmental Science & Technology, May 18th, 2009
Potential Impact of Climate Change on Air Pollution-Related Human Health Effects.

BBC, May 12th, 2009
Powering our way out of poverty.

Who is Responsible for CO2 - East West Deadlock

China says it's unfair that the west 'outsources' emissions. Now that Lord Stern has said responsibility should be split between producers and consumers, other countries may follow suit (Guardian, May 27th, 2009).

While the debate for the West to establish greener ways, China is already leading the way in clean coal technology and electric vehicles.

Science Daily, February 24th, 2009
Rich countries are contributing to the emission increases in developing nations, but this is not accounted for in international negotiations.

Science Daily, July 30th, 2008
Carnegie Mellon University's Christopher L. Weber argues that China's new title as the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter is at least partly due to consumption of Chinese goods in the West.

Energy integration for China, China Dialogue, May 11th, 2009
Faced with worsening energy scarcity, environmental damage and climate change, China is striving to develop renewable energy sources; in particular, large-scale wind power generation... Large-scale development of wind power is the current trend, but the connection to the grid is a major issue.

Reducing energy use at low cost, China Dialogue, May 04th, 2009
Energy saving in buildings may be the most cost-effective and achievable strategy to address climate change. Collaboration between China and the US, writes David Hathaway, demonstrates that the best strategy is decidedly low-tech.

Population vs Pollution (PM10) in the Urban Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Estimated annual average PM10 concentrations for year 2002 (from WDI) are compared against the urban population in Africa, Asia, and Latin America (for year 2005). Click on the images to enlarge view. A detailed analysis of PM pollution is Asia is presented in SIM-20-2009.



The measurement data from the WHO AMIS 3.0 for year 2000.

Population Growth Rates by Country (EoE)

An article on Encyclopedia of Earth,

provides estimates of the average annual percent change (2009 estimated) in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country.

The rate may be positive or negative.

The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs.

Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.

Impact of Climate Change on Air Pollution-Related Human Health Effects (EST)

New journal article "Potential Impact of Climate Change on Air Pollution-Related Human Health Effects" published in Environmental Science & Technology, May, 2009.

Abstract:The potential health impact of ambient ozone and PM2.5 concentrations modulated by climate change over the United States is investigated using combined atmospheric and health modeling. Regional air quality modeling for 2001 and 2050 was conducted using CMAQ Modeling System with meteorology from the GISS Global Climate Model, downscaled regionally using MM5, keeping boundary conditions of air pollutants, emission sources, population, activity levels, and pollution controls constant.

BenMap was employed to estimate the air pollution health outcomes at the county, state, and national level for 2050 caused by the effect of meteorology on future ozone and PM2.5 concentrations.

The changes in calculated annual mean PM2.5 concentrations show a relatively modest change with positive and negative responses (increasing PM2.5 levels across the northeastern U.S.) although average ozone levels slightly decrease across the northern sections of the U.S., and increase across the southern tier. Results suggest that climate change driven air quality-related health effects will be adversely affected in more than 2/3 of the continental U.S. Changes in health effects induced by PM2.5 dominate compared to those caused by ozone. PM2.5-induced premature mortality is about 15 times higher than that due to ozone.

Nationally the analysis suggests approximately 4000 additional annual premature deaths due to climate change impacts on PM2.5 vs 300 due to climate change-induced ozone changes. However, the impacts vary spatially. Increased premature mortality due to elevated ozone concentrations will be offset by lower mortality from reductions in PM2.5 in 11 states.

Uncertainties related to different emissions projections used to simulate future climate, and the uncertainties forecasting the meteorology, are large although there are potentially important unaddressed uncertainties (e.g., downscaling, speciation, interaction, exposure, and concentration−response function of the human health studies)