EU approves end of combustion engine sales by 2035

Rfi – AFP, 29 June 2022 

EU approves plan for a complete shift to electric engines in the European
Union from 2035 RONNY HARTMANN AFP/File

 Luxembourg (AFP) – The European Union approved a plan to end the sale of vehicles with combustion engines by 2035 in Europe, the 27-member bloc announced early Wednesday, in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions to zero. 

The measure, first proposed in July 2021, will mean a de facto halt to sales of petrol and diesel cars as well as light commercial vehicles and a complete shift to electric engines in the European Union from 2035. 

The plan is intended to help achieve the continent's climate objectives, in particular, carbon neutrality by 2050. 

At the request of countries including Germany and Italy, the EU-27 also agreed to consider a future green light for the use of alternative technologies such as synthetic fuels or plug-in hybrids. 

While approval would be tied to achieving the complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions, the technologies have been contested by environmental NGOs. 

Environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg also approved a five-year extension of the exemption from CO2 obligations granted to so-called "niche" manufacturers, or those producing fewer than 10,000 vehicles per year, until the end of 2035. 

The clause, sometimes referred to as the "Ferrari amendment", will benefit luxury brands in particular. 

These measures must now be negotiated with members of the European Parliament. 

"This is a big challenge for our automotive industry," acknowledged French Minister of Ecological Transition Agnes Pannier-Runacher, who chaired Tuesday night's meeting. 

But she said it was a "necessity" in the face of competition from China and the United States, which have bet heavily on electric vehicles seen as the future of the industry. 

These decisions will "allow a planned and accompanied transition", the minister said. 

Openness to synthetic fuels

Europe's automotive industry, which is already investing heavily in the move to electric vehicles, fears the social impact of a too-rapid transition. 

"The overwhelming majority of car manufacturers have chosen electric cars," said Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission Vice President in charge of the European Green Deal, at a press conference. 

He affirmed the EU body's willingness to be open-minded to other technologies -- like synthetic fuels, which are also referred to as e-fuels. 

"We are technology neutral. What we want are zero-emission cars," he explained. 

"At the moment, e-fuels do not seem a realistic solution, but if manufacturers can prove otherwise in the future, we will be open." 

The technology of synthetic fuels, currently under study, consists of producing fuel from CO2 from industrial activities using low-carbon electricity, in a circular economy approach. 

Like the oil industry, the automotive sector has high hopes for these new fuels, which would extend the use of internal combustion engines now threatened by the emergence of completely electric vehicles. 

But environmental organisations object to the use of this technology in cars, as it is considered both expensive and energy-consuming. 

The synthetic-fuelled engines also emit as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as their fossil fuel equivalents, they say. 

Cars are the main mode of transport for Europeans and account for just under 15 percent of total CO2 emissions in the EU. It is also one of the main gases responsible for global warming.

In response to manufacturers' concerns about insufficient consumer demand for 100 percent electric cars, the Commission has recommended a major expansion of charging stations. 

"Along the main roads in Europe, there must be charging points every 60 kilometres (37 miles)," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last year. 

Manufacturers regularly complain about the lack of such infrastructure, especially in southern and eastern European countries.

Dutch space technology ‘game changer’ for pollution detection

DutchNews, November 22, 2019

Photo: Depositphotos.com

In a scientific first, Dutch and North-American scientists have detected a large source of methane pollution using space technology. 

The satellite-borne TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), which was developed in the Netherlands, was launched on 13 October 2017 and does world-wide sweeps of the planet in search of greenhouse emissions. 

The source of the harmful greenhouse gas turned out to be an oil and gas installation in Turkmenistan in Central Asia. After the leak was reported to the company subsequent satellite images confirmed that the leak had been dealt with. 

Physics professor Ilse Aben from the Dutch institute for space research SRON, which was involved in the research, told public broadcaster NOS the leak was discovered ‘more or less by accident’.  It was flagged up at the beginning of this year by Canadian and American colleagues and who were doing methane measurements related to volcanic activity. 

‘Their measurements are limited to smaller areas while Tropomi covers the whole planet. However, they can zoom in more and on detecting a number of methane sources they contacted us to see if we could spot them too. And we could,’ Aben told the broadcaster. 

Pieternel Levelt, head of satellite detection at project leader KNMI, called the event ‘a game changer’. ‘The fact that we can detect this sort of methane leaks all over the world is very important for the climate. The instrument is having a huge impact.’ 

Tropomi, and others like it, will in future be used not only for the detection of individual sources of methane but also to check whether countries and businesses are complying with international climate protection agreements. 

‘The European Union is currently working with the European Space Agency (ESA) on new satellites which are going to measure CO2 levels from space in a few years’ time,’ Levelt said. 

CO2 is largely responsible for the warming up of the planet but methane contributes about a third of harmful gases. The most common sources for methane are cattle breeding, the oil and gas industry and coal mines.

Volkswagen faces first mammoth diesel lawsuit on home turf

Yahoo – AFP, Yann SCHREIBER, September 30, 2019

Dieselgate is now 'part of the group's history' (AFP Photo/John MACDOUGALL)

Braunschweig (Germany) (AFP) - A case pitting hundreds of thousands of owners of manipulated diesel cars demanding compensation opened against German car behemoth Volkswagen Monday, four years after the country's largest post-war industrial scandal erupted.

Around 450,000 people have joined a first-of-its-kind grouped proceeding, introduced by lawmakers after the "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal broke in 2015.

The first hearing in what is likely to be a grinding, years-long trial began at 10 am (0800 GMT) in Brunswick, around 30 kilometres (19 miles) from VW headquarters in the northern city of Wolfsburg. The second is planned for November 18.

Consumer rights group VZBV, representing the plaintiffs, says the German carmaker deliberately harmed buyers by installing motor control software that allowed vehicles to pollute far more on the road than under lab conditions.

"I would like Volkswagen to reimburse the purchase price" said Andreas Sarcletti, a customer who had made the trip from nearby Hanover, "but I'm worried the trial is going to last a very long time."

Uwe Reinicke, who bought a manipulated vehicle in 2011, said "I don't think it's right, the way Volkswagen treated us."

VW fooled authorities about the real level of harmful emissions from 

its cars (AFP Photo/THOMAS KIENZLE)

"VW ought to finally, properly admit that they lied," he added.

The trial is Germany's largest so far in the tentacular diesel scandal, which last week saw VW chief executive Herbert Diess charged with market manipulation over his role.

50 questions for judges

"Several regional tribunals have already found against Volkswagen" and granted plaintiffs compensation, judge Michael Neef noted as the proceedings opened.

Alongside the grouped proceeding, 61,000 individual lawsuits have been filed in Germany, but Brunswick may not follow those earlier rulings.

Of the around 50 questions about the case judges must decide on, whether Volkswagen "caused harm" by acting "dishonestly" will be "one of the central, difficult questions," Neef added.

"We're confident of our chances, since Volkswagen committed fraud," VZBV lawyer Ralph Sauer told AFP ahead of the hearing.

VW lawyer Martine de Lind van Wijngaarden countered that there was "no harm and no basis to this claim" because "hundreds of thousands of cars are used" on the roads without problem.

A lot of files to get through (AFP Photo/Ronny Hartmann)

Judges said that even if they find there was harm, the amount diesel owners receive in compensation would be based on the present-day market value -- not the original purchase price.

Every owner registered in the trial will have to claim individually, even if the plaintiffs were to win the case.

VW thinks a final judgement could arrive in 2023 at the earliest, if the case is appealed all the way to the Federal Court of Justice.

Individual proceedings could then take at least another year -- in the court of first instance.

By then, the cars' market value will have further eroded, making a buyback cheaper for the firm.

Instead, the judges mentioned the possibility of a settlement, while allowing that such talks "would not be easy" given duplicates and foreign residents on the list of plaintiffs.

The VZBV says it is "open" to an out-of-court settlement but "in that case, VW would have to pay a significant sum after all," Mueller told AFP.

VW for its part finds a mass settlement "hard to imagine".

Most of VW's fines payments have gone to the US (AFP Photo/Geoff Robins)

30 billion euros

Since 2015, when Volkswagen admitted to manipulating 11 million vehicles worldwide to fool emissions tests, the scandal has cost the group over 30 billion euros ($33 billion) in fines, compensation and legal costs.

Most of that sum -- $22 billion -- has gone to the US, while in Germany VW has so far paid just 2.3 billion euros spread across three fines.

Alongside car owners, investors are claiming damages for losses they suffered when the group's share price plummeted after it came clean.

And earlier this week, chief executive Herbert Diess and supervisory board chief Hans Dieter Poetsch were charged with market manipulation.

Former chief executive Martin Winterkorn, who stepped down over the scandal, has been also charged with fraud.

The clouds of scandal still haven't blown away (AFP Photo/Julian Stratenschulte)

Away from the legal battlegrounds, "dieselgate" has sped up the fuel's decline from its status as lower-carbon alternative to petrol, favoured with government subsidies.

In Germany, its market share among new registrations has fallen from 46 to 33 percent. Car bans are also looming in some city centres because of the level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

The diesel scandal is "part of the group's history" just like the famous Beetle and Golf models, says VW brand chief Ralf Brandstaetter.

"The diesel crisis was a catalyst for our transformation," Brandstaetter told AFP in a recent interview, pointing to VW's 30 billion euro investment in a new electric range to "regain society's respect".

Ticket tax won’t hit airlines, will cut CO2, says leaked Brussels report

DutchNews, May 13, 2019 

A plane landing at dusk. Photo: Depositphotos.com 

The introduction of a flight tax of €7.50 per ticket will not have a negative effect on the Dutch economy but will cut carbon dioxide emissions, according to a leaked report by the European Commission. 

The Dutch government plans to introduce a tax on flying in 2021. The Netherlands is one of 20 EU countries which levies little or no tax on airline tickets, apart from 21% value added tax on domestic flights. 

The report has been leaked by green campaign group Transport & Environment and shows that a tax on tickets similar to that which operates in Germany would lead to a 4% increase in ticket prices and a 4% drop in passenger numbers and flights. 

But the impact of this on the aviation sector will be ‘compensated by an almost equal increase in jobs in other sectors of the economy, so the net effect on employment is close to zero’, the report said. 

In addition, the  introduction of a tax on tickets would generate €324m for the treasury, cut CO2 emissions by 4% and the number of people affected by noise by 3%. 

The report, which has not been published by the commission, also shows that taxing kerosene in Europe would cut aviation emissions by 11% and have no net impact on jobs or the economy as a whole.

‘Aviation’s decades-long kerosene tax holiday needs to end now,’ said Bill Hemmings, aviation director of Transport & Environment. ‘This is essential to fight climate change and will help the millions afflicted by unbearable aircraft noise. Europe’s unique and deplorable status as a kerosene tax haven is indefensible.’

Germany finds truckers cheating to hide emissions

Yahoo – AFP, April 2, 2019

Emissions cheating in trucks is rampant and getting harder to detect (AFP Photo/
Christoph Schmidt)

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - German authorities have identified hundreds of trucks "manipulated" to save their operators money by shutting off exhaust treatment systems, saying many more cheating vehicles could be at large on Europe's roads.

Of around 13,000 trucks whose "AdBlue" filter system was checked on German roads last year, 300 were "defective", a government answer to a parliamentary question from the Greens party seen Tuesday by AFP showed.

Of 132 such defects spotted since August last year, 84 could be traced back to deliberate manipulation rather than a technical fault, the government added -- a distinction not drawn in statistics collected before then.

Electronic devices available for around 100 euros ($112) allow users to deactivate the exhaust treatment system, allowing some trucking firms to make massive savings, daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) reported after revealing the scheme.

But with their catalytic converters switched off, the trucks spew far more harmful pollutants.

"The fact that we are finding more manipulated systems than faulty ones is an alarm signal," Greens MP Stephan Kuehn said.

With time, "the parts needed for the cheating are becoming smaller and smaller and more sophisticated, and therefore more difficult to find" during spot checks, the government added.

The SZ reported that operators can save up to one-third of the costs of running a truck supposedly meeting the Euro 5 or 6 emissions standard by installing one of the boxes or modifying software -- an even harder-to-detect option.

Devices or software changes can enable cheating in a number of ways.

Some fool the engine control software into thinking the catalytic converter is still working, preventing a warning to the driver or an automatic reduction in performance.

Others produce fake readings for the outside temperature, triggering a system that deactivates exhaust treatment at below -11 Celsius (12.2 Fahrenheit).

Clusters of similar rule-breaking have been identified elsewhere in Europe, especially in Spain.

Without exhaust treatment, trucks emit far more nitrogen oxides (NOx), which studies have shown is linked to various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Since Volkswagen admitted in 2015 to cheating emissions tests on 11 million vehicles worldwide, alarm has spread in Germany about levels of the gas in city air.

Federal, state and local governments are battling to prevent drivers of older diesel vehicles being banned from city centres as courts order a growing number of exclusion zones.

Toyota to give away fuel-cell patents to boost industry

Yahoo – AFP, 6 Jan 2015

A man refuels Toyota Motor's fuel cell vehicle "Mirai" at a hydrogen station

in Tokyo on November 17, 2014 (AFP Photo/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

Tokyo (AFP) - Toyota will give away thousands of patents for its fuel-cell cars, it said Tuesday, in an effort to encourage other automakers into the new industry.

The world's largest vehicle maker said it will allow royalty-free use of about 5,680 patent licences, including 1,970 related to fuel-cell stacks and 3,350 concerning fuel-cell system control technology.

The firm also said the free patent licences will include about 290 items related to high-pressure hydrogen tanks.

Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor's fuel

 cell vehicle "Mirai" is displayed in Tokyo

on November 18, 2014 (AFP Photo/

Yoshikazu Tsuno)

The cost-free licences will be allowed "through the initial market introduction period" of fuel cell vehicles (FCV), which the company expects to last until about 2020.

Toyota will also open about 70 patent licences related to hydrogen stations -- the equivalent of gas stands for internal combustion vehicles, and a vital link in the chain for drivers -- indefinitely for manufacturers and operators.

"By allowing royalty-free use of FCV-related patent licences, Toyota is going one step further as it aims to promote the widespread use of FCVs and actively contribute to the realisation of a hydrogen-based society," the automaker said in a statement.

The announcement came after Toyota last month rolled out the world's first mass market fuel-cell car -- the four-door Mirai sedan -- in Japan.

The car -- whose name means "future" in Japanese -- will hit the US and some European countries, including Britain, Germany and Denmark, in 2015, Toyota has said.

It hopes to sell more than 3,000 units of the car by the end of 2017 in the United States, and up to 100 annually in Europe.

Fuel-cell cars are seen as the Holy Grail of green cars as they are powered by a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, which produces nothing more harmful than water at the point of use.

But a limited driving range and lack of refuelling stations have hampered development of fuel-cell and their cousin, all-electric cars, which environmentalists say could play a vital role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and slowing global warming.

The Mirai can travel about 650 kilometres (400 miles) without refuelling, some three times further than an electric car, and its tank can be filled in a few minutes like gasoline engine vehicles, according to Toyota.

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United Nations aviation body reaches compromise deal to curb airline emissions

Deutsche Welle, 4 October 2013

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has reached a deal on curbing carbon dioxide emissions by airlines. But the agreement is not likely to completely satisfy the European Union.

At the conclusion of the organization's plenary meeting in Montreal, Canada, ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin congratulated the delegates on adopting the resolution, describing it as a major step forward for civil aviation.

"The devil may still be in the details, but today at least the devil has taken a vacation," Benjamin said.

The deal calls for the ICAO's nearly 200 member nations to agree by 2016 on an international system to reduce airline emissions, which are seen as a factor in climate change. The system would go into force in 2020, forcing airlines to account for their CO2 emissions, thus serving to encourage them to reduce the amount produced.

Possible EU problems

The agreement represents only a partial victory for the European Union, which had urged a carbon levy on flights within three years similar to its own recent scheme.

The 28-nation bloc last year imposed a carbon tax to make airlines using its airports pay for part of their emissions. The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for flights from and to the EU was, however, suspended last year in the face of a storm of criticism, with several nations rejecting the scheme.

Under the deal reached on Friday, countries would have to reject all regional schemes by 2016, thus possibly forcing the EU to abandon its ETS before the international set-up is implemented.

EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said the EU would have to look at "how to proceed up to 2020 with our EU emissions-trading system," but welcomed Friday's result.

"The EU's hard work is paying off," she said.

"With this deal on the table, ICAO agrees for the first time to a global way to address aviation emissions."

Others were less enthusiastic about Friday's deal.

"We should not dismantle effective climate policy instruments in exchange for a vague promise on a global scheme in the distant future without guarantees of environmental integrity or ambition, " Green EU parliamentarian Satu Hassi said.

She said the EU should "stand firm and stick by its original plans on aviation emissions."

tj/lw (AFP, dpa)

Antwerp-Amsterdam rail line gets solar power

RNW, 14 June 2011

Europe’s first solar panelled train tunnel

Europe’s first solar panelled train tunnel opened in June, bringing green energy to trains on the high-speed line between Antwerp and Amsterdam. The 16,000 solar panels on the roof of Antwerp Central Station will also power railway infrastructure and trains using the Belgian rail network.

The project, known as Solar Tunnel, is expected to generate 3.3 megawatts of energy – the equivalent of the average annual electricity consumption of about 1,000 homes. According to a press release from project partners Enfinity, the tunnel will decrease CO2 emissions by 2,400 tons a year.

The tunnel is hailed as the first ever railway infrastructure to be used to generate green energy. “It is the perfect way to cut the carbon footprint because the spaces used have no other economic value,” Bart van Renterghem, Enfinity’s UK head told The Daily Mail.

Among those collaborating on the tunnel were Belgian rail operator Infrabel and solar construction company Solar Power Systems.

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Helping homeowners harness the sun (Google / SolarCity)

Car-free push key to rise in clean air days

Tifa Asrianti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/30/2008 11:03 AM  

With the last car free event of the year held on Sunday, Jakarta will have seen 125 days with "good" air quality in 2008, higher than the 73 days recorded last year, an official said Monday. 

Jakarta Environmental Management Board (BPLHD) Chairman Budirama Natakusumah said the car free events helped Jakarta reach the higher number of days with good air quality this year. 

The number of days with good quality air has been consistently increasing; from 28 in 2005 to 45 in 2006. 

"During the car free day events, the areas usually see a 60 to 80 percent drop in carbon monoxide levels and 50 to 60 percent drop in dust pollution," Budirama told The Jakarta Post. 

He said that his agency's target for next year is to hold the event twice a month along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, as well as twice a year in each municipality. 

This year the city administration held car free events in each of its five municipalities. Central Jakarta saw a car free day on Jl. Letjen Suprapto, in East Jakarta it was on Jl. Pramuka, in South Jakarta on Jl. HR Rasuna Said and in North Jakarta Jl. Danau Sunter Selatan was free of motor vehicles. Meanwhile West Jakarta blocked traffic off Jl. Tongkol, Jl. Cengkeh, Jl. Kali Besar Timur, Jl. Pintu Besar Utara and Jl. Pos Kota, all in the Old Town area. 

Alfred Sitorus from the Committee for Phasing Out Leaded Gasoline (KPBB) said that his organization believes the event still has room for improvement, as it still allows private vehicles to use one lane. 

"We regret that there is no coordination between the police, the BPLHD and the transportation agency. With the private cars using the slow lanes, it won't affect the air quality as much as it could. If there is no improvement in January's car free day, we will help the organizer to keep the area sterile from all private vehicles," he said. 

Budirama acknowledged the flaw in the event. He cited that, on last Sunday's car free event, there was a military-clad troop traveling through the area, ignoring the rule. He said the public was angry at the passing of the military truck. 

Besides private cars, top officials such as Vice President Jusuf Kalla have also crashed a car free event. 

Budirama said that his agency could not punish the perpetrators. 

"We always inform government offices and the public of the events. Lack of information is no excuse. I am happy if NGOs want to help us in the event," he said. 

Alfred questioned the accuracy of the data because, while a car free day event decreases pollution by 20-30 percent, pollution levels jump by up to 70 percent on the average work day. 

"Perhaps they count the quality air days from the number of Sundays and the car free days. Perhaps they count the pollution percentage on Jl. Sudirman - Jl. MH Thamrin and claim it as the whole of Jakarta. As far as I know, the city administration only has five monitoring devices," he said. 

Budirama said that his agency planned to buy fixed equipment for Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin this year. The European-made equipment cost Rp 5 billion (US$455,000), he said. 

"But due to the late budget, we have to return the money. We hope we can procure the equipment next year," he said.

City announces tough stance on emissions

Mariani Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/23/2008 10:59 AM  

Private vehicles in Jakarta must pass an exhaust emissions test and receive a certification sticker next year, or risk the owners getting fined. 

Budirama Natakusumah, head of the city's Environment Management Board (BPLHD), said Monday the board was making all the necessary preparations to implement a bylaw on air pollution and quality control next year, but added no date had been set for it. 

The bylaw stipulates owners of vehicles without emissions test stickers will be fined a maximum of Rp 2 million (US$180). However, Budirama said the law would initially be limited to private vehicle owners. 

"In the long run, the bylaw will be applicable to owners of all kinds of vehicles. We implement it step by step," he told The Jakarta Post. 

"Currently, we are still coordinating with both the transportation agency and the police to prepare the necessary technical aspects of the bylaw, such as increasing the number of referral emissions test workshops and mechanics." 

There are currently 238 such workshops, with 568 mechanics. 

Vehicle owners welcomed the move, but demanded a fixed deadline and time frame to get their vehicles ready. 

Hartono, a car-rental operator, said his company would need at least a week, to get all its 30 cars checked. 

"Because of the holiday season, most of our cars are out. For the cars being used in the city, it's still possible to get the tests done if we work on schedule. But for the cars that are out of town, it's more difficult," he said, adding he was certain all his cars would pass the test. 

Car owner Anisa Basuki said the government should allow vehicle owners a grace period of at least three months before enforcing the bylaw. 

Meri Dianti, a motorcycle user, said she wanted the government to put more announcements in the media to remind people about the deadline. 

"They should remind people a few more times before starting to fine people. I read a lot of news but I haven't heard anything yet about a deadline," she said. 

The administration was also urged to provide the public with easier access to test workshops. 

Hartono suggested checks in public places such as parking lots and malls, as had been done before, should be increased. 

"It is rather inconvenient to take the cars to a garage for the test. But if it's done in a car park, for instance, people can do the check in between doing other things. That's a better way of reaching out to people," he said. 

Both Hartono and Anisa believed the maximum fine was too harsh and almost impossible to implement. 

"People may choose to settle on the spot with the police officers, as often happens now, because it's too inconvenient to go to court. I'm afraid this (new bylaw) will become just another excuse for extorting money," Hartono said. 

Anisa questioned what would happen to cars that failed the test, despite efforts to fix them. 

"Some cars will never pass the test. What will happen to them?" Anisa said. (hdt)

Jakarta air getting healthier: Official

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok |  Sat, 11/15/2008 11:00 AM  

While compulsory emissions testing for private cars continues to be delayed, the Jakarta administration claims air quality is getting better across the city thanks to regular car-free days. 

Data from the Jakarta Environment Management Board (BPLHD) shows Jakartans breathed healthy air on 104 days up to October this year, compared to only 73 days last year and 45 days in 2006. 

The city launched "voluntary" emission checks for private cars in 2006. 

BPLHD chairman Budirama Natakusumah said Car-Free Day significantly contributed to a reduction in air pollution in the city. 

"Up until October we had carried out Car-Free Day 18 times this year, including along the city's main street of Jl. Jend. Sudirman," he told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the Better Air Quality conference in Bangkok on Thursday. 

Budirama said concentration of particulate matter measuring 10 mm (PM10) decreased by an average of 40 percent each Car-Free Day. 

The amount of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) declined an average of 63 percent and 67 percent respectively. 

The pollutants expelled by motor vehicles and industries cause various diseases, particularly respiratory disease, hypertension, kidney failure, coronary disease and cancer. 

Budirama said the office used a mobile air monitoring unit to measure air quality during Car-Free Day, which was mostly conducted on weekends when many Jakartans stay at home. 

Jakarta, which organized three car-free days last year, has five air quality monitoring stations, but only three of them are in good condition. 

"We plan on holding Car-Free Day 22 times next year. Hopefully, we can also enforce the law on mandatory emissions tests for private cars and motorcycles," Budirama said. 

In 2005, the administration issued a bylaw requiring all private cars to test their emissions, in an effort to clean the city's air. 

Under the bylaw, vehicle owners are required to have their vehicles tested twice a year. Owners of vehicles that pollute heavily are fined Rp 2 million or face two months in prison. 

Budirama said the delay in enforcing the law was due to technical problems, holding back the supply of certificates and stickers for emission tests. 

Chairman of the Public Health School at the University of Indonesia, Budi Haryanto, doubted the validity of the air quality figures, saying data from Car-Free Day could not represent the real condition of the whole city. 

"We need to verify the data given the fact more and more people are falling ill because of air pollution in Jakarta," he said. 

Budi said results from measuring the air quality on the weekend would be different to tests on working days, when millions of private cars and motorcycles flocked to Jakarta. 

Chairman of the Indonesian Lead Information Center (KPPB), Ahmad Safruddin, who is also involved in the Car-Free Day campaign, said hydrocarbon (HC) in Jakarta remained a big problem. 

"We need to improve fuel quality in Jakarta and retrofit catalytic converters in order to cut pollutants of HC, PM10 and CO," he said.

Motorcycles and aging vehicles negate efforts to cut emissions

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok | Tue, 11/11/2008 10:49 AM  

The rapid rise in motorcycle numbers and continued operation of old three-wheelers remain Asia's main challenges in effecting emissions cuts to deal with climate change, transportation experts say. 

Bert Fabian, transport program manager of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia), said most small towns in Asia still used two- and three-wheel vehicles as their main mode of public transportation. 

"More people prefer to use motorcycles and three-wheelers in urban areas, since they're cheaper and consume less fuel. But their emissions are the major challenges," he told participants at the Better Air Quality 2008 (BAQ 2008) conference here Monday. 

A joint study this year by CAI-Asia and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) lists Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines as the five Asian countries with the highest motorcycle ownership. 

The study shows Malaysia has 300 million motorcycles as of 2008, compared to 275 million in 2005. It is estimated the number will rise to 390 million in 2015. 

Indonesia, home to more than 230 million people, currently has 125 million motorcycles -- an increase from 80 million in 2005 -- with CAI-Asia predicting motorcycle ownership will grow to 150 million by 2012 and 200 million by 2025. 

"The number of motorcycles is also rapidly growing in the Philippines. This is directly related to the deterioration of public transportation," Fabian said. 

"The rising number of vehicles will boost fuel consumption." 

CAI-Asia also highlighted the use of aging vehicles, still widely used across the region. 

A 2005 study revealed the aging three wheelers in Indonesia, more popular as bajaj, had an average age of 25 years, compared to nine years in Thailand. 

The average age of cars in both countries remained at between six and 10 years. 

About 900 transportation experts, policymakers and stakeholders from around the world have gathered in Bangkok until Friday to discuss efforts on reducing air pollution and cutting harmful emissions from the transportation sector. 

The World Health Organization estimates 800,000 people die prematurely due to exposure to urban air pollution. Of this figure, some 50,000 are in Asia. 

CAI-Asia said emissions of air pollutants, including particulate matters (PM10) and carbon monoxide (CO) from the transportation sector, showed a declining trend due to the use of cleaner technologies and fuels under the implementation of the Euro standard. 

"But CO2 emissions are a different story. There is no up-and-down trend. It keeps rising because of rampant fuel consumption," Fabian said. 

He proposed three efforts to deal with such emissions: reducing emissions per kilometer of trip, cutting emissions per unit of transport, and slashing the number of trips. 

"We can get the most emission cuts by reducing the amount of traveling. However, it takes behavioral changes for the people (to do so)," he said.

Eco-driving promoted to cut emissions

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is working to change the behavior of public transportation drivers, a key element in the campaign to reduce carbon emissions.

The transportation sector accounts for 50 percent of the nation's total fuel consumption. Of that, 80 percent is consumed by land transportation.

"In addition to fuel diversification, energy-use efficiency is a second means of reducing national fuel subsidies, which have proven to be very costly for Indonesia," Dollaris Riauaty "Waty" Suhadi, the project manager for Swisscontact's Clean Air Project, said during a campaign drive Thursday.

To increase efficiency in fuel use, Waty added, Swisscontact has introduced eco-driving or fuel-efficiency driving among bus and commercial vehicle operators through a pilot study involving drivers of charter bus firm PT Hiba Utama.

"After training 100 Hiba Utama drivers in eco-driving techniques, our study concluded that the company managed to reduce fuel consumption up to 18 percent, enabling it to save at least US$12,000 per month," she said. Hiba Utama operates more than 2,000 vehicles and employs at least 4,000 drivers.

Swisscontact previously trained 50 truck drivers at publicly-listed cement maker PT Holcim Indonesia in 2006, the year the non-government organization first introduced eco-driving to Indonesia. The concept has also been applied in Switzerland, Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany.

In eco-driving, motorists avoid hard acceleration, excessive braking and other behaviors that lead to higher fuel consumption.

"The way we accelerate and shift gears affects the way fuel is used," said the Transportation Ministry's director general for land transportation, Iskandar Abubakar.

According to Iskandar, since the commercial transportation sector is not only the country's largest fuel consumer, but also one of the sectors most likely to be hit by fuel subsidy cuts, there is a greater need for eco-friendly operation measures within the industry.

Soetanto Soehondo of the City Transportation Board, however, argued that the idea should have been introduced among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and individually-owned commercial operators first, instead of big players like Hiba Utama and PT Bluebird.

"A cursory glance at the city's transportation system will tell you that the main contributors to carbon monoxide emissions are actually buses owned by SMEs and private individuals," Soetanto told The Jakarta Post by phone Thursday evening.

"Well-established companies like Hiba, on the other hand, already have certain operating standards. So naturally they will face fewer challenges in training their drivers, unlike public bus operators, which are pressed to generate as much money as possible within a short period of time," he argued.

According to Waty, Swisscontact is targeting large fleet companies for reasons of efficiency.

"Introducing eco-driving measures to companies with large vehicle fleets will yield more results than approaching SMEs that on average run small numbers of vehicles," she said. (amr)

Airport plants trees

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II started planting trees Saturday as part of a nationwide re-greening campaign.

In cooperation with the alumni association of the University of Indonesia, the company has plans to re-landscape 25 hectares at the airport and call it "Angkasa Pura II Forest".

"We've set a goal of planting 10 million trees ... to help (mitigate) climate change," said the company's president director Edi Haryoto.

He said the program was the brainchild of Sofyan Djalil, state minister for small and medium enterprises (center, planting a tree), who is also chairman of the alumni association.

The program began with some 36,000 saplings representing nearly one thousand different tree species.

While lawns and groves are often associated with exclusive clubs and housing estates, Sofyan spoke enthusiastically about a program that was for everyone. "There will be more than 500 million trees growing in the country in the next few years if we all start by planting at least one tree now.

"This initiative can help us combat global warming and reduce its impact."

Meanwhile, Edi said the green zones at the airport could serve the same function as a public park and would be suitable for jogging and bicycling.

'Everything we do can harm the environment'

The Jakarta Post

While Indonesia's climate change delegation gather at the UN conference in Bali, many organizations in Jakarta are holding environmental campaigns, including tree seedling give-aways and planting activities. But while the world is watching the creation of a roadmap for a new international agreement on environment protection, many people continue to disregard important climate change management messages. Much of the city's population continue to dispose of their garbage into river systems, or exploit the city's groundwater, or build commercial premises on water catchment areas. So The Jakarta Post hit the streets this week to find out how to involve more people in environmental and climate change management practices.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo:

Everyone must realize that everything they do may harm the environment.

The impact of climate change is evident ... in floods.

When (the public) litter and thus clog the rivers, they are being harmful to the environment. In consequence, they will be in danger of floods.

The residents must stop throwing garbage into the rivers.

The Jakarta administration itself has initiated environmentally friendly programs by imposing the emission test for vehicles and using compressed natural gas for busway buses.

Wardah Hafidz, urban poor activist:

Global warming has become a problem (and it's) right under our nose. So, ecological awareness must reach ... the lowest level of the society, the poor.

We currently hold an event that also aims to familiarize (the) urban poor with ... global problems and how to deal with (them) (called) Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Lia, 34, an employee of a private company:

I think, most people are not aware of preserving the environment (on) a daily basis, let alone knowing about ... the climate change in Bali.

When my father washes his car, he always lets the water continuously run from the tap.

It's true that we do not have to pay for the water because we use ground water, but still, that is not right.

In addition to that, my father also likes to throw trash anywhere he pleases, especially while driving.

The minute I forbid him, he will try to follow my advice, for once. But then he will repeat his violations in other times.

My older sister, a graduate of Biology from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) who is now working as a researcher in a government office, is no different.

One time, when I (prompted a) family discussion on how the industry contributes a great deal of damage to our environment, the two of them simply said, "Well, the industry is important for our country's development."

That's it. They (did not) ... touch ... on the subject I brought up.

Meanwhile, I also regret the waste management at my campus, the Bandung Institute of Technology.

Since two years ago, around its campus, it has provided three sets of garbage bins designated for organic, paper and plastic garbage.

But neither the students nor the garbage pickers throw trash into the right designated bin.

What bothers me most is the fact that when the trash was picked from the three-set-bins, they were just mixed into one dump site.

So, what's the point of distinguishing the bins?

It is also difficult for me to find garbage bins in every corner of this city. The lack of garbage bins at public places, has forced me to turn my pocket and my bag as temporary trash bins.

It's ok if the trash is dry. But it's not ok if the trash is wet.

So, I end up throwing garbage anywhere, with a guilty feeling haunting me.

Elly Kristanti, 66, an employee of a private company:

I have not heard about the conference.

However, I ... heard about the global warming issue (after) I watched The Oprah Winfrey Show some time ago.

And I think global warming has started to happen in Jakarta. Just look at the extreme weather condition nowadays.

When it rains, floods are everywhere, when it's a dry day, it is hot as hell.

All of that happens due to zero awareness to preserve the environment from both the citizens and also the industrial players.

Environment awareness is not something formed in a snap. It needs to be nurtured (from) as early as ... kindergarten level and in the family.

My only hope ... the conference ... can make the entire global citizens simultaneously aware of the seriousness of this global warming condition and act upon a shared-commitment to preserve the environment in every corner of this globe.

Am I hoping too much?