‘Blue sky project’ to provide clean air for next generation

Disna MUDALIGE

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) under the guidance and supervision of the Environment Ministry is to launch a new integrated air quality management programme for Sri Lanka. Every citizen is entitled to clean air and it is vital that we manage air quality to fulfil this objective. We will establish air quality monitoring stations to measure ambient air quality under the ‘Blue Sky 2020’ project.

CEA chairman Charitha Herath spoke to the Daily News on this landmark initiative and the National Green Awards to be held this year.

Q: What is the purpose of the CEA in introducing ‘Blue Sky 2020’?

A: This new project titled ‘Blue Sky 2020’ will ensure clean air for next generation. The CEA was established in 1981 under the provision of the National Environmental Act No: 47 of 1980 as a regulatory body dealing mainly with environmental management. Air is one of the greatest natural resources that belong to all of us. If a citizen of this country had been deprived of the access to clean air, he can seek legal actions against the CEA. We are duty bound to manage the air quality.

Being thoughtful of this fact, we decided to introduce a new programme to measure the present ambient air quality of the country and give full attention to all sources of air pollution, such as, vehicle emissions, industrial air pollution etc. The sources of air pollution will be properly identified and programmes which are being carried out to control the air pollution will be further strengthened under this programme.

For example the Vehicle Emission Test (VET) programme presently being carried out with the coordination of the CEA and the Motor Traffic Department will be strengthened. There had been certain shortcomings in the VET programme and as a result the validity of its certificate was questionable over the past years. Now our Authority, the Motor Traffic Department and Measurement Units, Standards and Services Department expect to make an integrated approach to rectify those shortcomings in the VET programme.

Q: What measures will be taken to strengthen the VET programme?

A: Spot raids will be conducted to check the standards of the VET centres and the accuracy of data in the certificates issued. The VET programme was introduced with the presumption that vehicle emissions are the number one air polluter. This presumption is valid even today.

We initially applied basic standards considering the fact that half of the vehicle fleet in the country would have failed if the European standards were introduced. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has informed us to start off discussions and studies to gradually advance another step in vehicle emission standards.

Q: Why air quality management is necessary for Sri Lanka?

A: Unlike in the past, now even tourists are highly concerned about the air quality of the country they visit. The controversial issue of poor air quality in Kandy had a negative impact on tourism there in the recent past. Clean air when combined with the natural beauty and abundant natural resources in the country will add an exceptional value to the country.

When we were small the water at any place was suitable for drinking purposes. But today we inquire whether it is drinking water or not before consumption. This situation did not exist about 20 years ago. Likewise in the future there can be a day when people will have to question whether the air quality of this area is suitable for living or not. Managing ambient air quality can be a huge challenge for most countries in the future. ‘Blue Sky 2020’ will help Sri Lanka to face this challenge.

Q: What are the proposed activities of the project?

A: We look forward to launch ‘Blue sky 2020’ this year and carry it forward energetically. We hope to install air quality display boards in several main cities to make the public aware of the air quality of the city. Until now, we had no sufficient data collecting mechanism on ambient air quality. Under this programme we hope to maintain a data base of ambient air quality in a way that anybody including tourists can obtain information easily. We will also establish air quality monitoring stations in all main cities.

Now Sri Lanka is in the WHO interim target one with regard to ambient air quality. We hope to reach WHO interim target three in 2020, which is the best quality proposed by the WHO. Countries like Switzerland are presently maintaining this standard. Commitment of all citizens is required to reach this target.

Banning of two stroke three wheels and leaded petrol in the recent past was aimed at managing the ambient air quality. Steps will also be taken to reduce sulphur content in auto diesel upto 500ppm in the future. Our oil refinery should be upgraded for this purpose. Presently sulphur content in auto diesel is about 2000ppm.

The new project will also monitor the air quality standards in the industrial sector and ensure that it is properly maintained. We want to achieve the targets of ‘Blue Sky 2020’ not in an environment devoid of industries and vehicles but by regulating and monitoring them. We believe that it is a responsibility of a state to get involved in this process.

Q: How do you get funds for this project?

A: The President as the Finance Minister has provisioned a special financial allocation of Rs 150 million to start this project. International support is also being received for this project. Last week, the environment minister and I had discussions with the Czech Republic and they showed keen interest in supporting this venture.

There was a time when environmental conservation was not even mentioned in policy statements of leaders in many countries. But today it has become an important chapter in policy statements of rulers in many developed countries. In Sri Lanka, the environmental protection and conservation was broadly discussed under a major chapter only in the election manifesto of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The present regime as envisaged in the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework has placed a notable weight upon environmental management in Sri Lanka. The other countries of the region have not reached this level of concern for environment yet.

Q: What are the objectives of the CEA in organizing the National Green Awards?

A: The National Green Awards ceremony was conducted last year on a grand scale. We hope to conduct it in August this year too. It recognizes enthusiasts, activists and entrepreneurs who have operationalized ‘the green idea’ so to speak in their lives, their work and businesses.

Awards will be given under selected 10 categories for industrial sector, three categories for institutes and two categories for project sector. The Green Awards ceremony seeks to profile and give prominence to those who have showed a path that we can all follow to ensure survival of the species and a habitable and sustainable planet. It recognizes industries, local government authorities, public and private institutions and schools that are ‘green’ in thinking, practice and in outcomes produced.

These awards seek to create a consciousness among consumer and producer regarding the importance of ‘being green’ with a view to making ‘greenness’ a sought-after brand attribute.