Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The regulations examined share a number
of the common characteristics, including: high
stringency, certainty, incentive-based, infor-
mation-sharing, stakeholder participation, and
capability-enhanced. In California, its stringent
zero-emission requirement pushes the industry
to pursue innovative instead of end-of-pipe so-
lutions since the very beginning. The clear road
map, phase-in periods and deadlines for various
targets have sent a clear signal that the authority
is determined to execute the plan and the industry
has to act without delay. The regulation is backed
up by strong incentives to facilitate demonstration
and encourage early acquisition of ZEBuses. It is
also information-driven, and capability-enhanced,
particularly with the support of California Fuel Cell
Partnership. Regulatory requirements are revised
continuously throughout the regulatory process
upon feedback from the industrial stakeholders.
Hong Kong's APCRs governing the diesel-to-
LPG taxi switch programme mandate taxis to
keep pace with the most stringent international
fuel and emission standards. The high certainty
of the APCRs is realized by early announcement
of the emission standard tightening. Financial
incentives in the form of subsidies and fuel tax
differentials were provided to win the support
of the taxi trade. It has been highly information
driven. Regulators gathered information about the
LPG technology and operational characteristics
from trial schemes to guide regulatory decisions.
The engagement of and consultation with the taxi
trade and other key stakeholders throughout the
process enable relatively smooth deployment of
LPG taxis and the setup of LPG infrastructure.
Operational training seminars were organized to
enhance stakeholder capability in dealing with
the new TEI.
Important lessons have also been learned from
the regulatory differences between the two case
studies, leading to different outcomes in some
aspects. Comparatively speaking, the ZEBus
Regulation has the more far-reaching goal of
and regulations related to air quality and climate
change. The APCRs, in comparison, has a more
limited scope in controlling vehicle emissions
in Hong Kong. The long-term vision makes the
ZEBus Regulation favourable to TEI promotion
in the long run. It triggers off continuous search
for innovative solutions, whereas the APCRs
have not generated continuing interest in technol-
ogy upgrades after the one-off switch. Further,
the process-based ZEBus Regulation provides
formal procedures for stakeholder consultation
in regulation drafting and reviewing. It allows
constant feedback and update to regularly amend
the regulations and policy. This is especially
critical for any TEIs which have not yet reached
technological or market maturity. In Hong Kong,
though stakeholder engagement was seen in the
regulatory process in relation to the diesel-to-LPG
replacement scheme, it is considered as an excep-
tion. There is no guarantee that similar process
will be found in other similar regulatory exercises.
REFERENCES
ACE (Advisory Council on the Environment-
Hong Kong). (1999a).
LPG taxi scheme
. (ACE
Paper 27/99).
ACE (Advisory Council on the Environment-Hong
Kong). (1999b).
Proposed air pollution control:
Vehicle design standards, emission
(amendment).
(Cap. 311, sub. leg. J. ACE Paper 16/99).
ACE (Advisory Council on the Environment-
Hong Kong). (1999c).
Actions to improve Hong
Kong air quality
. (ACE Paper 24/99).
Ashford, N. (2000). An innovation-based strategy
for a sustainable development. In Hemmelskamp,
J., Rennings, K., & Leone, F. (Eds.),
Innovation
oriented environmental regulation, theoretical ap-
proaches and empirical analysis, ZEW economics
studies 10
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