Retrofits in Asia
Sharing International Experience and Best Practices
Particulate matter (PM) emissions from diesel vehicles represent a significant threat to human health in Asian cities. Harmful PM emissions are caused by older vehicles, poor vehicle maintenance and low quality fuel. To reduce emissions from in-use vehicles, governments worldwide are employing filter or catalytic devices, as well as low sulfur fuel. For example, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo have already developed comprehensive retrofit program, which are models for new pilot activities in such cities as Bangkok and Mumbai.
As part of the DIESEL Alliance, a partnership led by Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD), Thai agencies, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other stakeholders are developing a pilot program to test new retrofit solutions for Bangkok. Technology manufacturers, such as Johnson Matthey and Englehard, are providing technologies, while World Bank and others are working with PCD to evaluate resulting data in the context of a comprehensive policy reform framework.
Regional Workshop
To share regional best practices and to explore strategies for promoting the adoption of diesel retrofit policies in Bangkok, DIESEL is convening a two-day regional workshop on August 10-11, 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand for senior environmental officials, policymakers, fleet owners, academics and other experts.
The main objectives of this regional workshop on diesel retrofits in Asia are to:
- Share experiences on regional retrofit technologies, policies pilot projects and programs
- Develop an action agenda for Bangkok to promote a multi-stakeholder-driven diesel retrofit program for Bangkok
- Introduce Asian cities to the Bangkok pilot project, including a site visit to the PCD lab.
- Demonstrate technologies and retrofit pilot results
Event Format and Participants
This regional workshop will include: interactive panel discussions on international best practices on designing and implementing effective diesel retrofit programs and developing specific technology solutions and advances; and small group discussions to create an action agenda for implementing a retrofit program for Bangkok.
Participants include 100 senior environmental officials, policymakers, fleet owners, retrofit manufacturers and distributors, academics and other environmental experts from 9 Asian countries (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand), Mexico and the United States, as well as international experts and technology companies.
Organizers
Thailand Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), Thailand Pollution Control Department, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), Clean Air Initiative-Asia
For more information contact:
Suwannee Adsavakulchai, Ph.D
suwanneea@asianet.co.th
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