Abstract

This study presents the analyses of air pollutants emission, energy use and CO2 emission in the Kathmandu Valley from urban transportation along with their past and future scenario to seek for plausible synergistic mitigation measures. In this pursuit, the study developed an inventory of criteria air pollutants, energy use and CO2 emission by passenger transportation in the Kathmandu Valley for the past and projected them to the future with the help of a bottom-up and dynamic accounting model and scenario approach. In the process, a Policy Dialogue with relevant stakeholders were held in the Valley to identify the local priority issues (identified as PM10, congestion and energy use), past achievements, and the potential present and future avenues for policy interventions in the Valley. Based on the outcomes of the Policy Dialogue, a number of "what-if" scenarios that reflected the local conditions and avenues for potential interventions were formulated. These scenarios were then evaluated based on few indicators that are relevant to the local (PM10 reduction, number of vehicles – proxy for congesting, energy saving, and utilization of indigenous energy resources) and global context (CO2 mitigation). In Kathmandu Valley, our study shows that the synergy between the local and global objectives is very prominent. For specific countermeasures, the priority could differ and conflicts may arise but from the overall objectives of the city (as outlined by the Policy Dialogue – controlling PM10, saving oil, using more electricity, mitigating congestion and CO2), the best choice would be same set of policy measures with or without considering CO2 as an objective. This is an outcome of a research project funded by START International Secretariat (www.start.org) located at Washington DC.

Presentation: http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2006/1757/docs/SP8_4.ppt