Asia's transport sustainability dilemma

IN SOME parts of Asia, people dangerously hang like bats from rickety smog-polluting vehicles that serve as public transport. This is unacceptable and should be the target of low-carbon transport efforts.

Any tourist visiting Asian cities like Mumbai, Shanghai, Manila and Bangkok for the first time might be struck by the levels of smog. Aside from other sources of air pollution like coal plants, forest clearing and the like, transportation accounts for a major percentage of urban smog. In some cases, it is the single biggest contributor.

Air pollution negatively impacts people's productivity and quality of life alike. Rates for lost workdays and hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema often increase because of dangerous levels of benzene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon and other smog pollutants.