
POLLUTERS MUST PAY: UAE ADVOCATE OF GREEN MOTORING WANTS SWIFT ACTION
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SHIREENA AL NOWAIS A toxicity charge to penalise the most polluting vehicles should be introduced to improve the environment and air quality, the head of a UAE green vehicle association says. The penalty would work to put drivers off off lo keeping cold cars or buying large-engined vehicles that pump out high emissions. Instead it would encourage those with old and dirty vehi cies to buy newer ones, and the owners of gas guzzlers to downsize, choosing a hybrid or electric vehicle. Fares Al Mazrooei, founder of the UAE Electric Vehicle Own- er Association (KVOA) and a speaker at the World Future Energy Summit this month, said that without a system that would punish polluters and reward those who are more en- vironmentally conscious, the UAE was doomed. "There must be more incen tives [to choose cleaner cars]," he told The National.. Statistics released by the World Bank in 2015 suggested that the UAE had the highest air pollutant average of any coun try on its list, which included China and India. There was controversy over the methods. used to measure pollution, and air quali ty said the high teading for par the UAE's director for ticulate pollution was a result of the country's desert climate, Particulate matter is the tiny particles of sand, chemicals or dust that float around in the air, a lot of it invisible to the naked eye. It is associated with premature mortality, especially from heart disease and attacks, cancers and strokes. These hazardous particles have also. been linked with diabetes, neu- rological problems, impaired lung development in children, obesity and dementia. Dr Samah El Beltagy, special ist pulmonologist at Burjeel Medical Centre, said over the paat few years, she had seen an increasing number of patients, particularly young children, with es and and breathing problems, such as asthraa and allergies bronchitis. Fares Al Mazronel used platform at World Future Energy Summit to promote his views Sitish Kumar for The National T-CHARGE FACTS How much does it cost to drive an old car in London? This applies from 7am to 6pm on weekdays T-charge Congestion Total O paralty for nan compliance paid within 14 days Dn615.50 after 4 days Who's affected? (up to 10,000 cars are expected to be affected every weekday) Any vehicle that does not meet the minimum Euro 4 emission standards Six cars that are guaranteed to avoid the London T-charge: "While I cannot blame it all on pollution, I can safely say that it is a major contributing factor," she said. "We need I reses research and more control and limitations on highly polluting cars," The Royal College of Physicians estimated that in the UK, 40,000 deaths a year are attrib utable to outdoor air pollution. Last year, an emissions sur charge, known as the T-charge, was introduced to tackle pollution in London, which fre- quently misses air quality tar gets. It charges drivers of diesel and petrol vehicles registered before 2006 Dh52 a day to drive in central London during week day daytime in an attempt to tacide air pollution.
day daytime in an attempt to tackle air pollution.
This includes cars, vans, minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs, motorbikes, motorised caravans and horseboxes, pri vate ambulances, hearses, du- al-purpose vehicles and other specialist vehicle types that do not meet the minimum Euro 4 emission standard, a classifica tion based on the age of the car.
The T-charge is expected to affect up to 10,000 vehicles a day and is a sort of "surcharge light" in preparation for the introduction next year of an ultra-low emission zone, which will include more vehicles in the restrictions.
France has also introduced the Crit'Air vignette scheme.
The "clean air" windscreen stickers are colour-coded ac- cording to a vehicle's emissions and driving in four major cities, including Paris, is restricted for the worst offenders.
The UAE is yet to take action on old or heavily polluting cars, despite a growing num- ber of vehicles in the country. Towards the end of last year, Dubai announced that electric
car owners would be able to charge their vehicles free until 2019, get free tags so they are exempt from the Salik road toll system, use free designated green parking and get free elec tric vehicle registration and re- newal fees.
Mr Al Mazrooei said current environmental policies in the country are in a deadlock and date back to the 1980s.
He suggested a system "where there is a surcharge on high-ca- pacity engines that produce more pollution", and used the example of the French bo nus-malus approach - reduced
'We need research and more control and limitations on highly polluting cars'
DR SAMAH EL BELTAGY
Specialist pulmonologist at Burjoel Medical Centre
prices are offered on the pur chase of new, low-polluting cars and a penalty is placed on those emitting high levels of carbon dioxide.
"You take money [from the penalty) and put it in a fund so that people can benefit from a discount when purchasing cars with carbon-producing emis- sions of below 100 grams [per kilometre). Firstly, the govern- ment will not have to pay any thing at all, and secondly, the polluters will be paying.
"So if I want a Nissan Patrol, then I pay for it." In line with acceptance of a 5 per cent VAT on goods and services, Mr Al Mazrooei believes residents will not oppose additional charges for buying the popular and much-coveted 4x4 vehicles and luxury fast cars.
However, Ben Pullen, man- aging director of Global EVRT, a Dubai organisation that runs conferences and road trips to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles, said: "It still seems quite unimaginable to have [a surcharge] applied here now seeing the love that people have for big cars and the cur rent freedom they have to buy cars.
"We could instead increase incentives that are already in place for hybrid and electric ve hicles... perhaps you could re- move VAT from electric or low- er polluting vehicles," he said. Where Mr Al Mazrooei and Mr Pullen do agree is that it is time to tackle the health hazards
caused by vehicle pollution. "In the UAE, no one has tied [cars and health problems] to- gether," Mr Al Mazrooei said.
"Right now, we should look at policies and change them. That means increasing subsidies on electricity bills, lifting the sub- sidies on fuel. Turn it into an open market and let people compete."
Mr Pullen said: "At times walking down the street at Sheikh Zayed, you can smell the fumes. It all feels so unnee- essary when you have so many solutions at hand."
Mr Mazrooei believes that now the country should be "rac- ing to implement policies".
"In the UAE, how many chil- dren have a breathing prob lem?" he said.
"My personal opinion is that we should not be worried, but very worried, because if it is not tackled correctly, we are doomed."