Climate change undermines air quality plan

Saturday, 24 November 2007 00:21

TEC Director Mr Jeff Angel "There is clear evidence that the effects of climate change will increase the numbers of days each year when photochemical smog exceeds health guidelines. The NSW Government must act immediately to protect public health and the environment by cutting emissions of harmful smog forming chemicals”.

The NSW Government’s Clean Air Forum today heard expert advice from the CSIRO that global warming would worsen the effects of photochemical smog in Sydney. Photochemical smog is formed by the atmospheric reaction of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds on warm sunny days. With temperatures set to rise due to climate change the problem will worsen unless emissions of air pollutants are drastically reduced.

Motor vehicles are the biggest and growing source of smog forming chemicals. TEC has called on the government to take urgent steps to curb growing vehicle use and improve public transport.

“The government must act to reduce demand for vehicle use through introduction of congestion charges and legislation requiring large companies and government agencies to allow employees to ‘cash out’ parking entitlements. If linked to a major expansion of public transport, particularly new rail infrastructure - significant  air quality benefits would be achieved,” Mr Angel said.

TEC has welcomed announcements by the government to work with industry to reduce petrol volatility and to require large service stations to capture petrol bowser emissions but warned that these measures are not enough on their own to ensure air quality goals are met.

“Reducing petrol volatility and stopping petrol vapour emissions at the pump are important steps forward. These gains will, however, be negated by rising vehicle use unless the government provides a viable public transport alternative,” Mr Angel said.