Experts: Asia Slow to Act on Pollution

One Hong Kong study found pollution contributes to 1,600 deaths in the city a year, fueling fears that tourists and investors may shift their attention to cleaner cities such as Singapore.

Similar concerns have been expressed in Japan and South Korea about the impact of acid rain on lakes and forests in those countries. Much of the blame is laid on China.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also has said that much of the airborne mercury in the United States originates in China and other countries.

Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have complained since 1997 about haze drifting from Indonesia, where annual fires are started as part of seasonal land-clearing. Indonesia argues it lacks the money and technical expertise to prevent or control the fires.

The conference was offered some good news, however.

Officials from China promised to reduce levels of sulfur dioxide, a key component of acid rain, by 10 percent nationwide by 2010. Some cities have agreed to reduce levels by as much as 60 percent, they said.

Guangdong province and neighboring Hong Kong also plan to launch a pilot program at the end of this year to reduce pollution from power plants in the two territories.

The plan involves an "emissions trading" scheme in which polluters receive emissions quotas and may sell unused quotas to other polluters. Factories or power plants will be fined if they exceed their quotas.

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On the Net:

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities: http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia