Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: The government of Fiji is determined to manage pollution from motor vehicles, as there is one chapter in the Sustainable Development Bill dedicated to pollution management.

     Policies and measures: However, Fiji is still considered inadequate in terms of monitoring mechanisms, in addition that, non-cooperation from motorists, the regulations have been inefficiently enforced.

Background:

      How command and control measures were proven ineffective.

      Fijis laws dealing with pollution are amongst the least effective of the environmental laws. Prosecution of anyone causing pollution is practically impossible and has never been carried through. However it is encouraging to note that with the prospect of the Sustainable Development Act becoming law, some manufactures are starting to adopt self-imposed controls.

      For Fijis urban areas, smoky vehicle exhaust is amongst most common and offensive forms of pollution. There are large and increasing numbers of small entities, particularly motor vehicles, contributing to the background levels of air pollution. This pollution is strongly suspected to be increasing - but in the absence of regular monitoring this cannot be quantified. As far as can be determined from such paucity of data, these levels and those of gas pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and hydrogen sulphide) appear not yet to have reached concentrations likely to result in adverse health affects. Undoubtedly the situation would be far worse if Suva did not have prevailing trade winds to blow these air pollutants away.

      Air pollution levels emanating from vehicle emissions appear to have deteriorated markedly over the last few years. Dr Dick Watling, the senior author of the Fiji National State of the Environment Report and the National Environmental Strategy for Fiji, recently returned to Fiji from two year assignment in a number of South East Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, and Laos. Watling believes that the pollution from vehicle emissions in Suva had deteriorated significantly during his absence. Taking account of Suva vehicle population he noted air pollution was as bad, if not worse, than anything he had experienced with large South East Asian cities. Thus Suva could well be on the verge of a major environmental and public health problem. Watling attributes this deteriorating air quality situation to increasing vehicle numbers particularly the proliferation of second hand and reconditioned car imports from Japan. A clear example of environmental factors not being taken into consideration in economic decision making. He also saw no discernible improvement in the maintenance levels of the public transport fleet (taxis and buses). Research in the UK shows that a very significant proportion of all vehicle pollution is generated from no more than about 12 percent of old and badly tuned vehicles (Slater p, 4). This is certainly likely to be the case with pollution from Suva public transport sector vehicles.

      Air pollution emanating from vehicle emissions is a very obvious environmental problem that confronts decision-makers on a daily basis. Offenders could be prosecuted under the Public Health Act and the air pollution provisions of the Traffic Regulations. However they virtually never are. Why then are the command and control measures directed at this problem proving so ineffective? As pointed out in the Suva study some of the legislation is antiquated and there are over lapping areas of responsibility between the public health and transport authorities, and the police. There are also technical shortcomings in being able to measure vehicle emissions. The bus owners and taxi proprietors constitute a strong political lobby. Thus with the legal and institutional muddle that prevails it would take sustained proactive political commitment to successfully address this serious environmental problem. Such political commitment does not appear to exist.

      This does not mean that there is not government concern for air quality. Air quality management has warranted an entire chapter in the Sustainable Development Bill. It provides for the development of a policy on air quality management and for the enforcement of that policy. The Act has detailed provisions concerning motor vehicles including the prohibition of leaded petrol and requirements for catalytic converters. However sustained enforcement still remains the key to success. A much higher degree of commitment and co-operation between the authorities involved will be necessary. The severity of the problem of vehicle emissions may warrant the use of new detection techniques such as the use of infrared spectrometer, to gauge pollution from passing vehicles rather than relying on traditional idling tests.