Author: admin

While the government is cautious about placing blame, experts say much of the rise in pollution is coming from China, where air quality is a focus ahead of the Beijing Olympics next year.

The type of smog — called "photochemical smog" because it is created when sunlight reacts with exhaust from cars and factories — is made up of photochemical oxidant particles such as ozone. These particles can cause breathing difficulties and headaches.

"In terms of average levels of photochemical oxidants measured annually across Japan, there has been quite a rise since the 1990s," said Toshimasa Ohara, head of the National Institute of Environmental Studies’ regional atmospheric modeling section. "We believe a substantial part of that rise has come from increasing emissions in China. We’re looking into what percentage this factor has accounted for."

Smog adds to a string of environmental concerns that experts say originate in China, including acid rain and sandstorms that gain toxicity as they pass over its industrial regions.

But academics say Japan may find it hard to put pressure on China to cut emissions, with studies yet to show a precise figure on how much of Japan’s smog is caused by cross-border pollution.

"If we are going to take action against other countries, we can’t be vague," said Atsuko Mori, senior researcher at the Institute for Environmental Research and Public Health in Nagasaki, southern Japan. "There needs to be a thorough, scientific study into the causes."

RESEARCH COMPLICATED

Mori and other experts say research is complicated because domestic factors are also to blame for the recent rise in smog across Japan, which has taken pride in its efforts to cut emissions since its days of rapid economic growth in the 1970s.

For example, while emissions from cars have been restricted, those from paint and gasoline vapours, which also contribute to smog, have been harder to control. Smog can also be exacerbated by strong sunlight.

The Environment Ministry asked a group of academics and local health officials last month to carry out a study on pollution trends, but detailed research into the causes could take years.

"Research to base environmental policies on requires a lot of time and money," said Hajime Akimoto, programme director at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, noting that the United States spent a decade on research before it took steps against cross-border pollution.

"Research like that in Japan could take another five years."

As a first step, government officials say Japan is working together with China to measure its pollution, although the country still lacks high-tech equipment to analyse some pollutants such as ozone.

Ohara at the National Institute of Environmental Studies said the region could in future look to the example of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, an agreement to cut pollution under the UN Economic Commission for Europe signed by countries such as the United States and Canada.

"If it becomes clear that the effects of cross-border pollution are big, then it will be imperative to create international regulatory rules within East Asia, similar to Europe," he said.

IOC warning

Speaking at a press conference to announce the results of the car ban, environmental official Du Shaozhong declared himself satisfied.

"I am sure we will be able to ensure good air quality during the Olympic Games," he said, although he admitted four days was not long enough to make a big difference to pollution levels.

Four types of pollutants, including carbon monoxide and small particles, were tested over the four-day period, which ended on Monday.

Mr Du, who bicycled to work during the car ban, could not say whether the improved air quality would have made the atmosphere good enough to run a marathon.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge recently said endurance events could be cancelled if the air quality is not up to scratch.

Mr Du would only say that if air quality met national standards it would be good enough for "all kinds of outdoor exercises".

Fewer private cars on the road meant more people used public transport. Passenger numbers were up by 15%, it was revealed.

This meant buses – there were 800 more of them on the roads – could travel at 20 km/h (12mph) instead of the usual 14 km/h (9mph).

Chinese officials also had a kind word for the 6,500 police officers on duty during the four days, many of whom had "overcome fatigue" to ensure the test went off smoothly.

During the test period, odd-numbered cars were banned on Saturday and Monday, while cars with even-numbered registrations had to stay off the roads on Friday and Sunday.

“Storages are now back to their January 2003 levels. Maintaining the same water restrictions and consumer behaviour of the last two years would see Sydney remain well above the 30% trigger for emergency measures like desalination until at least January 2012 and probably much longer.

“With better community education and accelerated programs for installing rainwater tanks, Sydney could avoid the need for emergency measures until the end of the next decade or longer, even with population growth.

“Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra consumers are being told they have to pay $1.76 billion for a water supply option that they do not need and that will damage the marine environment.

“Premier Iemma and his Water Utilities Minster Nathan Rees have dropped Sydney into this mess.

“It is time they had the courage to admit their mistake and put the desalination plant on ice.

“If the Premier allows this disaster to happen, it will be triumph of political hubris over common sense, good economics and environmental management,” Dr Kaye said.

"Now are we going to continue to have just a woodchip industry and small amounts of value adding through saw logs and finishing timber products or are we going to have substantial value adding?

"I’ve always felt and always thought that substantial value adding was part of the equation."

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull rang the ABC while Mr Garrett was on air to say he was "aghast" at his counterpart’s hypocrisy.

He said Mr Garrett had been silent when Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon terminated an initial environmental inquiry into the pulp mill.

"Not one word of criticism from Peter Garrett or (Opposition Leader) Kevin Rudd," Mr Turnbull said.
"They were completely complicit in Lennon’s conduct. Not one word of criticism. They never picked up the phone and said `hang on Paul, you’ve got to let this thing go through to its conclusion’."

He accused Mr Garrett of being "like a mute, a silent figure lurking in the shadows" on the pulp mill issue until the last few days.

This piece of land, a wildlife corridor to Cudgera Reserve, is frequented by endangered flora and fauna, subject to flooding and tidal inundation and is now proposed for a housing estate and – yet another resort! 

Wetlands, mangroves, fish nurseries and habitats in abundance – all under metres of landfill – so that a developer who bought the land for a song with full knowledge that it was problematic- can have his shot at multimillion dollar ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION! 

The Hobbits will continue to push so as to save HP’s village character and its environment until the fat lady sings and she hasn’t sung yet! 

Too many times we have experienced temporary and partial Council/Government action to address developer destruction, only then to see authorities drop the ball – effectively rubber stamping and condoning illegal and unacceptable destructive practices which leave HP and its environment in a continual state of over-development threat. This has to stop once and for all! 

The Hobbits will keep a very close eye on what real action is taken to address their concerns and keep you posted. We will call for tabled discussions with the experts employed by Council so we have input into determining the future of our beloved home, consistent with policy and law.  We will lobby so that unfettered and unchecked discretions no longer have a comfortable seat in the Tweed Shire!