More than 1.4 billion city dwellers daily breathe in polluted air, containing harmful substances, which often exceed the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) three- to fourfold. About three million pre-mature deaths annually, especially among the poor, can be traced directly to the effects of air pollution, and children suffer increasingly from respiratory diseases.

Mitigating air pollution is an extremely important contribution to improving urban quality of life. GTZ can look back on more than 15 years of experience in the realm of Air Quality Management (AQM). Our advisory services focus primarily on decision-makers in authorities, institutions and organisations on a local, regional and national level. Our target is the reduction of air pollutant emissions through institutional capacity building as well as through numerous measures in the transport, energy, industrial, household and waste sectors.

Past successes have proven we are on the right track. Even under at times arduous prevalent general conditions, it has been possible to achieve noticeable pollutant reductions, to reduce smog-alarms and/or to foster a general public rethinking in line with a Sustainable Urban Development approach. In Mexico City, for example, the GTZ has participated intensively since 1991 in drawing up Clean Air Plans and implementing various measures in the transport, industrial and energy production sectors. As a result, air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, among others, were reduced by two-thirds in this metropolis of 20 million inhabitants. Similar examples can be found in Santiago de Chile, San José/Costa Rica and Malaysia.

Our Services

GTZ offers numerous services as outlined below: 

• International and regional know-how for short term projects up to a continuous person-to-person approach advice within the responsible authorities and institutions
• Training on a local and international level for all hierarchies in the responsible authorities and institutions concerning all relevant technical, organisational and strategic matters inherent to Air Quality Management
• Organisation and implementation of workshops, seminars and trainings on site, on a regional level as well as in European authorities and administrations as well as technical facilities (e.g. technical vehicle inspection institutions) of a clean air policy 
• Feasibility studies needed for an improved data base about the state of the air on site
• Advice on the development and preparation of adjusted legislature, decision protocols and public/limited invitations to tender for all air pollution control measures
• Advice and participation on mediation processes and ballot procedures with the relevant target and interest groups among the population, financial sector and political framework
• Fostering expert information exchange through networking and integration in international, such as the Clean Air Initiative of the World Bank  
• Advice focusing on effective anti-corruption campaigns in (public) authorities and administrations
• Implementation of public awareness campaigns and other PR measures concerning environmental and Air Quality Management policies.
  

Downloads

• Air Quality Management - Sustainable Transport: A Sourcebook for Policy-Makers in Developing Cities, Module 5a
  Comprehensive practical information about point and mobile emission sources of air pollution, compiled by one of the leading Air Quality Management experts of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The 50-page brochure is both easily understandable and implementation-targeted in its outlook.
  en-air-quality-management2004.pdf, 2,25 MB (English)
  es_5a_AQM.pdf, 1,76 MB (Spanish)
  fr_5a_AQM.pdf, 2,33 MB (French)
• Cleaner Fuels and Vehicle Technologies - Sustainable Transport: A Sourcebook for Policy-Makers in Developing Cities, Module 4a
  All essential information concerning combustibles for petrol and diesel motors as well as for two- and
  three-wheelers, compiled by international experts and presented in a concise, clearly-arranged and precise manner.
  en_4a_CFVT.pdf, 1,64 MB (English)
  es_4a_CFVT.pdf, 1,07 MB (Spanish)
• Clean Air in Cities - Akzente
  First-hand experiences: Select Air Quality Management projects and best practices. Air Quality Management is the central topic in one of the renowned GTZ publications "akzente". Various short articles commenting on relevant projects in Malaysia, Mexico, Chile and Syria as well as insights into the realm of technical co-operation illustrate both the diversity and effectiveness of our AQM approach.
  en-akzente-clean-air-in-the-cities.pdf, 1,23 MB (English)
• Clean Air in Cities for an Enhanced Quality of Life
  Comprehensive overview with background information as well as information on GTZ’s approaches and services.
  en_AQM_GTZ_Overview.pdf, 0,63 MB (English)

Recommended Links

• SUTP - Sustainable Urban Transport Project
  SUTP is a partnership between the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), CITYNET and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) which aims to help Asian cities achieve their sustainable transport goals, through the dissemination of information about international experience and work with particular cities.
  www.sutp.org
• Clean Air San Jose
  The project seeks to improve the air quality through joint work with public and private entities and the integration of urban and transport sector planning.
  www.programacyma.com