Ford, Shell join ADB-led initiative to improve air quality in Asian cities

Multinationals Shell Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have joined forces with Asian governments, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other private companies in committing to extend financial and technical assistance in the initiative "to bring blue skies back to Asia."

The project called Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) was initiated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) "to promote and demonstrate innovative ways to improve the air quality of Asian cities through the sharing of experiences and building of partnerships."

Aside from Shell and Ford, the other private companies joining the campaign are AVL, Cerulean International, Corning, DEKRA, ESP, and MAHA. The group will help finance and undertake activities to improve air quality management in 20 of the largest cities in Asia and 60 national government agencies, NGOs, and universities.

"This is the first time that private sector firms are engaging in a multi-sector regional initiative on air quality management," said David Hodgkinson, an ADB senior co-financing officer. "The participation of these organizations marks the start of a new modality for ADB, with private sector co-financing for technical assistance projects allowing ADB to take on more projects."

"Air pollution is a major problem in Asia’s cities, affecting the health of tens of millions and causing almost half a million premature deaths each year," the ADB said in a statement.

Eli Santiago, vice president of Shell Oil Products-East representing the private sector during the launch in Manila emphasized that their involvement reflects the increasing importance attached to the environment by companies in Asia.

"By joining CAI-Asia we have committed to make an annual financial commitment as well as technical know-how," he said. "We have also been asked to involve ourselves actively in the work of CAI-Asia."

Shell has been known to initiate roundtable discussions among oil companies in Asia to discuss how cleaner fuels can be made available over the next 10 years.