Clean Air Initiative - Global

The Clean Air Initiative (CAI) is a World Bank effort to improve air quality in cities by sharing knowledge and experiences through partnerships in Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe and Central Asia. CAI partners (leaders from the public and private sectors, the NGO community, research and academic institutions, government agencies, and international institutions) work to improve air quality in cities by:

• promoting the integrated development or enhancement of city clean air action plans based on the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
• fostering the exchange of air quality management knowledge and experience among those with experience in urban development, transport, energy reform, environmental management, and environmental health.
• encouraging public participation and the active involvement of the private sector in finding and implementing solutions.
• making CAI sustainable by gradually turning over its ownership and management to regional institutions.

Main Communication Strategies
Each of the 4 regional programmes functions relatively independently, with its own set of goals, activities, and partners. However, they share a key strategy: cross-sectoral parternship and the exchange of knowledge. Face-to-face meetings, along with distance learning and the exchange of information through media such as the CAI website, are intended to encourage thinking and action related to the air quality of major cities.

Specifically, the CAI-Asia programme is based on the sharing of knowledge about air quality management, as well as efforts to improve policy and regulatory frameworks. For example, in the period June to December 2003, CAI-Asia is working on organisational development, capacity building (Distance Learning course and training courses under the Clean Air Training Network for Asia (CATNet-Asia)), completion of and conversation about the Strategic Framework on Air Quality Management, promotion of integrated air quality management strategies (formation of local networks), and pilot projects including Public Health Impact Assessment of Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA), Diesel Emission Reduction Program in Bangkok, Thailand, and the impact of low and ultra low sulfur diesel on emissions of diesel vehicles. Regional workshops will also be held.

The CAI in Latin American Cities (CAI-LAC) focusses on reversing the deterioration of urban air quality resulting from rapid urbanisation, increased vehicular transport, and industrial production. During its 3 years of operation, the CAI-LAC has carried out workshops in 5 of the partner cities, as well as technical studies and institutional assistance related to the preparation of air quality action plans in Lima-Callao, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires. The CAI-LAC is helping catalyse dialogue among environment, transport, and urban planning authorities, and among jurisdictions (municipal, regional, and central governments). Capacity building and information-sharing activities have included urban air quality management courses delivered via the Internet and satellite. Members have taken part in regional and international events on air quality. Clean technologies are being promoted through exhibits at city workshops in partner cities, a Transport and Air Quality Toolkit has been developed, and an Information Pool on the characteristics of technological options to reduce air pollution has been prepared.

The CAI in Sub-Saharan Africa was launched in 1998 as a response to an increase in air quality problems in the region due largely to vehicle emissions. Organisers are working to:

• raise awareness of the dangers of urban air pollution, and its relation to vehicle and fuel choices, on the part of stakeholders (including those segments of the population at highest risk, like children and their mothers, street vendors, and pedestrian commuters);
• measure baseline vehicle emissions, air quality, pollution exposure, and pollution effects;
• identify the most cost-effective measures of effecting changes in vehicles, fuels, and traffic management;
• design, implement, and monitor the impacts of Air Quality Action Plans to reduce pollution; and
• strengthen local expertise on air pollution and vehicle and fuel performance.

As an example of one of this programme's efforts, in June 2001 the first Regional Conference on Lead Phase-Out was held in Dakar, Senegal. Attended by delegates from 25 African countries, the conference resulted in a joint declaration on the complete phase-out of leaded gasoline in Sub-Saharan Africa as soon as possible and by 2005 at the latest.

The CAI for Cities of Europe and Central Asia (CAI ECA) was established in 2001 in response to growing concerns that local air pollution is one of the major causes of deteriorating human health in the region. One strategy to date has been the creation of a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on industrial pollution, traffic congestion, health impacts, the benefits of clean public transport systems, and clean production techniques. TV stations in Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Hungary have aired the PSA, as have Bloomberg Europe and Discovery International.