Integrating Environmental Considerations into the Economic Decision-Making Process
Modalities for environmental assessments
East and Southeast AsiaChina (Shanghai) Index
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III. ENVIRONMENT MONITORING AND URBAN PLANNING

[ III-A | III-B | III-C | III-D | III-E | III-F | III-G | III-H ]

C. Survey on automobile exhaust gas emissions and study on control strategies in Shanghai

It took five years for the number of automobiles in Shanghai to increase from 100,000 in 1985 to 200,000 m 1990, but only another three years to add another l00,000. More recently, an additional 120,000 was added in two years, making the total number in excess of 420,000 by the end of 1995. Emissions of exhaust fumes from the increasing number of automobiles seriously threatens the air environment of Shanghai. With support from the World Bank, studies of automobile exhaust gas pollution in Shanghai were carried out in order to understand the status quo and trends of such pollution, and so to develop appropriate control strategies.

1. Areas of study and survey

  1. Survey on the on-going situation of urban road traffic
  2. Determination of running condition of vehicles
  3. Determination of pollutant emission coefficient of vehicles
  4. Monitoring of air pollution at main crossroads
  5. Estimation of the contribution of automobile exhaust gas pollution to air pollution
  6. Survey on the current situation of management on vehicle exhaust gas emission
  7. Survey on the checking and maintenance of vehicles
  8. Analysis and estimation of trends of automobile exhaust gas pollution

2. Research methodology

Nearly 30 sites along the Inner Ring Road were chosen to obtain data identifying air pollution by CO, NMHC, NOx and Pb. The survey on the urban road traffic situation and the study of the general running condition of vehicles were carried out simultaneously. In addition, other key aspects concerning the formation of the final control strategies were also undertaken, such as to determine the coefficient of pollutant emission by vehicles, to investigate the management of pollutant emissions and the maintenance of vehicles . On the basis of above knowledge, the study provided an estimate of the emission volume of automobile exhaust gas and its contribution to urban air pollution, and an analysis of the changing trends of such volume and contribution. Finally, control strategies for automobile exhaust gas pollution are put forward.

3. Interesting facts and results of analysis

(a) Severe air pollution has been caused by automobile exhaust gas

The average daily concentration of CO near urban main traffic lines exceeded the national class 2 standard by 27 per cent, with the maximum concentration surpassing the standard by 2.13 times. The figures for NMHC were 87 per cent and 3.4 times and for NOx were 85 per cent and 9.0 times.

Fig35

Figure 35. The research framework for control strategies for urban automobiles exhaust gas pollution in Shanghai

(b) The emission volume of exhaust gas will increase even faster

The emission volume of CO by automobiles m 1995 increased by 23 times compared to the end of the 1980s while NMHC increased by 0.95 times and NOx by 3.2 times. Based on the estimate that the total number of automobiles in 2010 will reach 1.4 million, the emission volume of CO, NMHC and NOx at that time will increase another 3.2, 3.1 and 2.8 times respectively against 1995.

(c) The automobiles exhaust gas has become the main pollutant source in air pollution

In 1995, the contribution of CO, NMHC and NOx emitted from automobiles to the total of all air pollutants reached 76 per cent, 93 per cent and 44 per cent respectively, and these figures are estimated to reach 94 per cent, 98 per cent and 75 per cent by 2010 (table 18). Thus, automobile exhaust gas pollution is going to cause even worse air pollution if not strictly controlled. 

Table 18. The emission volume and contribution by urban fixed pollutant sources and automobile exhaust gas

Pollutants

Fixed pollutant sources

Automobiles

Emission (104t/y)

Contribution (per cent)

Emission (104t/y)

Contribution (per cent)

CO

3.20

24

10.4

76

NOx

3.86

56

3.04

44

NMHC

0.18

7

2.41

93

4. Control strategies for automobile exhaust gas pollution in Shanghai

Though the total number of automobiles in Shanghai is much less than that of large cities in developed countries, the contribution of exhaust gas pollution to air pollution is much higher. The main reasons are identified as follows:
  1. The urban traffic network in Shanghai is characterized as irregular, narrow and extraordinarily curved with a large number of crossroads. As a result, smooth driving is limited. In other respects, the efficiency of traffic management is low due to uncontrolled usage of roads by vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian. Thus vehicles frequently accelerate, slow down and stop to wait, causing large volumes of exhaust gas to gather along the roads.
  2. The emission volume of exhaust gas by individual vehicles is very high, because the current annual checking and maintenance system for vehicles is far from strict. Thus about 50 per cent of all vehicles are operating with emissions of exhaust gas exceeding the relevant standard.
  3. Management of exhaust gas emissions is weak. Currently, most vehicles have not installed exhaust gas purifying devices, thus permitting such gas to be emitted directly into the air.
To properly address the above problems, control strategies must include following aspects:
  1. Work out and introduce strict standards for the emission of automobile exhaust gas. 


    2. The automobile industry is one of six mainstay industries in Shanghai. 

    Introducing strict exhaust gas emission standards will be helpful in increasing the future competitive capability and sustainability of the automobile industry. This is not only demanded by environmental protection, but also by development of itself.
     

  2. Strengthen the annual check and maintenance system on vehicles


    3. This measure is effective in sharply reducing the emission of exhaust gas in a short period. Apart from eliminating out-moded vehicles and vehicles with severe emissions of exhaust gas, it requires all vehicles to install purifying devices for exhaust gas.
     

  3. Establish a system of collecting pollution emission fee


    4. "Who pollutes the environment, pays for harnessing" is applicable to automobile exhaust gas pollution. In this connection, the SEPB and Shanghai Public Security Bureau jointly issued, in 1996, Measures for Collecting Pollution Discharge Fees from Automobiles of Shanghai which initially set up such a system.
     

  4. Accelerate urban infrastructure construction, largely to improve the urban public traffic.


    5. The urban road system has been significantly improved in recent years. The Inner Ring Road, North-south Viaduct, Subway, Nanpu Bridge, Yangpu Bridge and Yan'an road twin tunnels have added considerable capacity to urban traffic. In particular, as a clean means of transportation, the subway absorbs large portions of ground traffic and is very effective in reducing the exhaust gas pollution.
     

  5. Restrict the increase of private cars.


    6. This should be identified as a local strategy required by the current urban traffic conditions in Shanghai. The local government did undertake such a policy by auctioning the licenses of private car. And it is a success when it is considered that a single automobile trade center in Beijing sells 5,000 vehicles in a month of which 80 per cent belong to private owners, whereas the total number of private cars in Shanghai remains at only 4,000.

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