AUTOMOTIVE EMISSIONS IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - RELATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL WARMING, ACIDIFICATION AND URBAN AIR-QUALITY

This paper attempts to assess the magnitude and scope of automotive po llutant emissions in developing countries and their role in global war ming, regional scale air pollution and urban air quality. Greenhouse-g as emissions (CO2 and CFCs) from motor vehicles in developing countrie s contribute less than 3% to the global greenhouse effect, compared to a 9 to 12% contribution from motor vehicles in OECD countries and Eas tern Europe. The share of OECD countries in conventional pollutant emi ssions from motor vehicles exceeds the combined contribution of all de veloping countries by a factor of three to five. Acid deposition from motor vehicle emissions does not currently appear to be a problem in d eveloping countries. The incidence of regional scale ozone is not know n but could be potentially significant downstream from large urban cen ters. There is a need for more systematic monitoring and evaluation of acid deposition and regional ozone concentrations in developing count ries. Urban air quality is the prime casualty of motorization in devel oping countries. The air pollution problem will intensify in developin g countries with increasing urbanization and the rapid pace of motoriz ation. Urban concentrations of carbon monoxide, airborne lead, particu late matter and sulfur oxides in many developing countries already exc eed the levels in industrialized countries. Motor vehicles emit 30% to 85% of all man-made air pollutants in the large urban areas in develo ping countries, depending on the level of motorization. Without effect ive measures to control pollutant emissions, some 300 to 500 million c ity dwellers in developing countries will become exposed to unhealthy and dangerous levels of air pollution from motor vehicles by the year 2000.