Quick facts about Pollution:

Sixteen of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in China. While some of this is attributable to population growth and local industry outputs, China has also become the destination for "recycled" and dumped electronics and other technologies for much of the world's higher-consumption countries. [Click here to watch a YouTube video about e-waste ]

Cambodia has no system in place to test air quality, and therefore cannot be compared against World Health Organization standards.

As of 2004, only 16.2% of Cambodia’s roads were paved. Road dust resuspension from earthen roads contributes to poor air quality throughout the country. 

Respiratory disease is a major cause of mortality in Cambodia, and may be caused or aggravated by high levels of particulate matter in the air. 

Data source: The World Bank; Asian Development Bank and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center (2006)

Air pollution problems:

Many visitors immediately notice the dust and pollution within a day in Phnom Penh. It can be a relief to then breathe in the cleaner air of the countryside or the wooded expanses near Angkor Wat! But, for anyone who lives in a highly polluted city, the long-term effects on health can be harsh. General congestion, asthma, and respiratory disease can all be triggered by exposure to pollutants and particulate matter. Considering that over half of fruits and vegetables are sold along the roadside, the dirt and dust can also negatively impact the food supply. 

A less visible source of air pollution happens inside the home. Many Cambodian families use charcoal-burning cookstoves to prepare meals. Long-term exposure to smoke and lack of ventilation can be devastating for women and children in particular, who are most likely to be around the stoves.

What is being done about pollution?

Reducing diesel and petroleum emissions will improve air quality, particularly in urban areas. Until standardized collection methods are developed, it is difficult to determine what specific types of improvements are most needed.

GERES Cambodia is the frontrunner for improving indoor air quality. Engineers working with the Cambodian Fuelwood Saving Project have redesigned affordable cookstoves for families and businesses, which increase efficiency - requiring 30-50% less fuelwood - and reduce smoke emissions. The project also supports the development of cleaner fuel sources for domestic and commercial purposes.

Cambodian Fuelwood Saving Project: http://www.geres-cambodia.org/cfsp/index.html

What is PEPY doing?

We aim to minimize our carbon output during tours by planning transportation options according to efficiency and their eco-friendly value. We offset the carbon dioxide emissions produced by our tour groups and our staff, through tree-planting in Cambodia, and investment in renewable energy programs. PEPY aimed to be carbon-neutral by the end of 2007 for all of our tours and our NGO operational activities.

Though PEPY did not invest thousands of dollars in an 'official carbon audit', additional funding was sent to GERES to account for any miscalculations that may have been made.  We at PEPY though believe that 'offsetting' is not the key to a greener planet, but that reductions themselves are necessary.  See the PEPY Tours environmental statement here.

What can you do?

Follow the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Buy your food locally, if it is a viable option, since it requires less energy to transport. You can also eat less meat, which reuires more resources to produce, transport, and prepare.

Watch your consumption, especially when it comes to technologies.  Do you know where your used computers end up?  Visit Dumping on the Poor to see some horrifying footage of cities in China which are overrun with pollution from our old technologies or click here to read an article from February 2008's PEPY newsletter about E-waste.  This follow up article includes links to places where you can recycle your old cell phones. If you want to donate an old computer, you can contact PC4Peace.

Ride your bike! Take a public bus! Carpool! Make a transportation diary, and document all the ways you use vehicles in an average month. Can you improve one carbon-dioxide-emitting event each week? Help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, get healthier through increased pedal-pushing, and support cleaner public transport!

Make thoughtful choices, and start spreading the word!