THE GLOBAL PHASEOUT OF LEADED GASOLINE:
A Successful Initiative
In April 1994, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development called upon governments to eliminate lead from gasoline worldwide. This action set in motion decisions and efforts in other international fora and institutions - including the Summit of the Americas, World Bank, Habitat II, OECD, and the UNECE - to encourage and assist nations to take action to phase out this principal source of lead pollution, which continues to harm the health of millions of people. Most at risk are children and other residents of urban areas. Governments around the world have responded to the CSD’s initiative.
Michael Walsh, a leading international consultant on automobiles and urban air pollution, has compiled the following analysis of the progress towards the global phaseout of leaded gasoline.
Countries Which Have Already Phased Out The Use of Lead in Gasoline
The following thirty six (36) countries are estimated to either already have phased out the use of leaded gasoline or are expected to do so before the end of 1999:
Argentina
Austria
Bahamas
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada Colombia
Costa Rica
Denmark
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Finland
Germany
Guam
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Japan
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Puerto Rico
Singapore
Slovakia
South Korea
Sweden
Netherlands
Thailand
United States
US Virgin Islands
Luxembourg
Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out The Use of Lead in Gasoline in 2000
An additional nine (9) countries are expected to join the Unleaded Club by the end of 2000 as listed below.
United Kingdom France Trinidad and Tobago Taiwan Monaco China Belgium Philippines Switzerland Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out The Use of Lead in Gasoline in 2001
In 2001, two (2) additional countries, Ecuador and Egypt, are expected to join the Unleaded Club.
Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out the Use Of Lead in Gasoline in 2002
No countries are expected to join the Unleaded Club in this year.
Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out the Use Of Lead in Gasoline in 2003
In 2003, three (3) additional countries are expected to join the Unleaded Club.
Ireland Italy Jamaica Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out the Use Of Lead in Gasoline in 2004
Three (3) additional countries are expected to join the Unleaded Club in 2004.
Greece Spain Portugal Countries Which Are Expected To Phase Out the Use Of Lead in Gasoline in 2005
Two additional countries, Peru and Bulgaria, are expected to join the Unleaded Club in 2005, bringing the total to 55 countries by that time.
Additional Countries Which Are the Most Likely Candidates To Phase Out the Use Of Lead in Gasoline by 2005
There are ten (10) additional countries which are highly promising prospects for phasing out the use of lead in gasoline by 2005 but have not yet made firm decisions to do so. These countries are listed below.
Australia
Romania
India
Mexico
Chile
Czech Republic
Poland
Hungary
Bangladesh
Nepal
Major Targets of Opportunity
Based on their continued high consumption of leaded gasoline, the following countries should receive major additional focus to eliminate lead in gasoline.
Confederation of Independent States Nigeria Saudi Arabia Venezuela South Africa Indonesia Iraq Libya Algeria Iran Kuwait Turkey United Arab Emirates Syria Israel Malaysia Overall Summary
Summarizing the above leads to the following conclusions:
36 countries have already phased out the use of leaded gasoline and this will likely rise to 55 countries by 2005
about 78% of all gasoline sold in the world is currently unleaded and this will likely rise to over 84% by 2005
an additional 10 countries already use unleaded gasoline and seem to be prime candidates for complete lead phase out; if lead were eliminated in these countries, the total fraction of unleaded sales would rise to almost 87%.
16 additional countries, many of which are in the Middle East or North Africa will consume the bulk of the remaining leaded gasoline in 2005; if lead were eliminated from gasoline in these countries, total unleaded sales would surpass 98% and the complete elimination of leaded fuel seems likely.
