Asia sees environmental improvement

Asia sees environmental improvement

HONG KONG (AFP): The environment in Asia has improved
significantly following the financial crisis, but longer term the
turmoil could set back clean-up efforts, the World Bank said
Tuesday.

Sharp declines in income and industrial output have reduced
air and water pollution, while a collapse in world commodity
prices has slowed the pace of logging, it said in a report.

The World Bank estimates there will be a 17 percent reduction
in the emission of particulates by the year 2000 and a 20 percent
reduction in lead particulates in the air.

Water pollution due to particulates will drop by 5.0 percent,
while the demand for plywood in South Korea and Japan has dropped
30 percent, sharply reducing deforestation in Indonesia.

But the report warned longer term the crisis could set back
efforts to improve Asia's environment as governments focus on
restoring growth rather than developing environmental policies.

"Long term initiatives are stalled by a political reluctance
to adjust fuel prices and insist on changes in behavior by
vehicle operators, even though such changes could general
significant fiscal savings in the medium to long term," it said.

The crisis will also delay investment in new plants and
technology that use more environmentally friendly, it said.

Another possible scenario is that governments begin to fall
back on natural resources to boost economic growth resulting in
severe depletion of fish stocks and forests and mineral
resources.

The bank warned the social consequences of ignoring
environmental pollution will be high, adding Asian countries are
well behind the achievements made 80 to 100 years ago by
developed nations.

Many households will lack clean water and sanitation while
urban air quality will deteriorate in smaller Chinese cities as
well as the current pollution hot spots of Bangkok, Manila and
Jakarta, it said.

The bank recommended a slow but steady implementation of
policies to protect the environment.