Abstract:

Effective urban air quality management requires coordination among a diverse array of private and public agencies. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Department of Environment has the responsibility of monitoring air quality and enforcing air quality regulations; while other organizations in the transport, industrial, and planning sectors have shown little involvement in integrated AQM initiatives. This paper will present a methodology developed for an ongoing project to assess and improve current coordination of air quality management in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A major obstacle to constructive coordination among diverse stakeholders is a shortage of accessible and relevant information for each party. For this reason, the first two objectives of the study are: 1) to collect and compile data on CO concentrations at three hot-spot locations within Kuala Lumpur, and 2) to survey the exposed population at each site for socio-economic and risk awareness data. Gender and income specific linkages to risk and exposure are emphasized. Data from these case studies are then used as a basis for discussions and awareness development among the representatives from the Department of Environment, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Department of Transport, as well as environmental NGOs and community groups. Through group discussions, interviews and a survey of organizational literature, a rigorous institutional analysis is performed to assess the extent and scope of both horizontal and vertical integration of different public stakeholders in regard to the needs for integrated urban AQM initiatives. The extent of pollution and socio-economic data collection is intentionally limited so that the primary objective of raising awareness and coordination among AQM stakeholders can be reproduced with modest funds. The methodology for and results from data collection and institutional analysis are presented along with lessons learned from the group discussions about the current coordination of AQM in Kuala Lumpur.

Presentation: http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2006/1757/docs/SW12_4.ppt

Full paper:

Air Quality Management Initiatives for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Study of Stakeholder Roles, Emission Sources, and Vulnerable Populations [.doc, 328.1Kb]