Limits to Vehicle Emission Control: A Case of Guangzhou

Despite the seriousness of the problem, the city government does not wield much power in its attempt to reduce exhaust gases. While vehicle emissions are the main source of local pollution, they have regional environmental consequences. So far, localized measures to address regional smog are far from effective. This paper explains that local efforts are confined by economic interests and priorities that lie within the jurisdictional boundaries which find addressing local air pollution through limiting car ownership and use as politically unacceptable. Also, incomplete pollution data in China in general makes it difficult for city officials to come up with targeted and innovative approaches that can bring additional emission reductions. The paper further argues that without a strong and direct commitment to radically reducing current levels of vehicle-based pollution through a set of complementary behavioral modification measures, continued reliance on temporary technical fixes is likely to exacerbate the urban air pollution problem.