ADB estimates that 80% of Asia's economic growth will be generated in its urban areas, supported by migrants in search of jobs and economic opportunities. Sustainable urban transport solutions are crucial to mitigate the growing congestion and pollution in the region's sprawling urban centers.

Urban growth and motorization in Asia and the Pacific are placing an enormous strain on transport and mobility. Motor vehicle fleets are already doubling every 5 to 7 years. In 1980s, only 9% of the world's 360 million motorized vehicles were found in the region. By 2030, it is estimated that nearly half of the world's projected 1.5 billion vehicles will be in Asia.

Read more: http://www.adb.org/features/sustainable-urban-transport-adbs-take

The Better Air Quality conference will be held in Hong Kong from 5 to 7 December 2012. BAQ 2012 is co-organized by the Clean Air Asia (formerly Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities), Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. BAQ 2012 will be held in parallel with the Motor Vehicle Emissions (MoVE) workshop that is co-organized by Hong Kong EPD, Hong Kong PolyU and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

http://www.baq2012.org/

CNN's Kyung Lah reports on how the Philippines hopes to reduce pollution, one ecofriendly motorbike at a time.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2012/04/30/lah-phill-e-trikes...

Urban air pollution is set to become the biggest environmental cause of premature death in the coming decades, overtaking even such mass killers as poor sanitation and a lack of clean drinking water, according to a new report.

Both developed and developing countries will be hit, and by 2050, there could be 3.6 million premature deaths a year from exposure to particulate matter, most of them in China and India. But rich countries will suffer worse effects from exposure to ground-level ozone, because of their ageing populations – older people are more susceptible.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/15/air-pollution-biggest-...

Sri Lanka's overall environmental performance is improving and the country has been ranked as a modest performer according to a study on global environment released during this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week.

Sri Lanka has been ranked at the 55th place, six places below the United States ranked at 49th, in the 2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) prepared by the Yale University in the United States.

Read more
http://www.colombopage.com

Beijing's government on Friday bowed to a vocal online campaign for a change in the way air quality is measured in the Chinese capital, one of the world's most polluted cities.

Authorities said they would start publishing figures this month showing the smallest, most dangerous pollution particles in the air after considering the wishes of residents, expressed on China's popular microblogs.

The Chinese capital currently bases its air quality information on particles of 10 micrometers or larger, known as PM10, and does not take into account the smaller particulates that experts say are most harmful to human health.

Read more
http://www.mysinchew.com

Beijing’s winter winds have never been much cause for celebration, typically prompting locals to grumble and groan about the capital’s harsh, frigid weather.

This week, it seems there are worse things than cold weather. A cold front and strong winds that pushed in on Wednesday drove out some of the worst air pollution of the year, and Beijingers found relief in the gusts.

Read more
http://www.globalpost.com

ADB is supporting an initiative to introduce tens of thousands of biogas systems in rural communities throughout Viet Nam. By turning waste to fuel, families save on their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.

ADB

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III today transferred 20 Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded electric tricycles (e-trikes) to the City of Mandaluyong, marking an important first step towards a sustainable, energy-efficient transport model for the country.

Emissions from the transport sector currently represent 30% of all pollution in the country, and approximately 80% of air pollution in Metro Manila. A sizeable proportion of vehicle emissions are attributable to inefficient public transport, particularly from tricycles, jeepneys and buses.

The 20 e-trikes are part of an ADB-funded project to introduce energy-efficient transportation alternatives in the Philippines. ADB is currently in discussions with the government and other development partners on a proposed project to significantly scale up the rollout of energy efficient e-trikes in Manila and other urban areas as early as 2012.

Jo Yamagata, Deputy Director General of ADB's Private Sector Division, discusses a US$200 billion project to convert municipal waste into clean energy that will light homes and fuel businesses in China. China is currently the world's largest producer of industrial waste -- generating 148 millions tons a year and growing at 8-10% annually.