Local politics regarding city environment Abstract In the last decades human society came to realize that the

pollution and irrational use of resources are compromising the capacities for future generations in satisfying their own needs. This is why, politics regarding environment protection start being implemented at cities level with the participation of local authorities and the support of citizens. More to it, such politics are beginning to show results, at environmental level. Ploiesti example is given below, a Romanian medium size city, fresh new member of uropean !ommunity, that starts showing the results of the pro"ects implemented by local authorities. #ey$words% pollution, environment, sustainable development, city level programs.

European Environmental Agency (EEA) elaborated, in July 2008, the Annual European Community LRTAP Convention emission inventory report 1990-200 , in which are numbered the main sources of air pollution in UE since !!0 to 200"# According to this report the ruttier transport remained the main cause of pollution with $ulfur dio%ide and &arbon mono%ide, and a second pollution source with small particles, at least for the European &ommunity# 'he report describes the evolution of air pollution in UE since !!0 until 200", showing that the great ma(ority of the member states reduced the air polluting substances in the last decade# 'he ruttier transport, production sector, constructions and agriculture are the main air polluting sources in Europe# E%posure to air pollution can seriously harm ones health on short and long term, can affect natural ecosystems and contribute to buildings corrosion# )articles from car smo*e and buildings heating systems can affect the lungs and harm people of all ages+ this represents a higher ris* for persons who already have heart and respiratory problems# Air pollution also contributes to forests and water ecosystems acidification, to soil and water atrophy, phenomena that limit the o%ygen reserves from rivers and la*es# ,n -omania, a new member of European Union, the local territory administrations, try to *eep up with European environmental policy in order to insure to its inhabitants a better air, water and soil .uality# 'here are still few economical and social particularities that ma*e this *ind of policies harder to implement#

-omania, as other countries, new members of European Union, are also trying to recover the economic and industrial gap that separates them from the developed, already members of Union# 'he citi/ens are, as well, *een to reach living standard from the members0 states# 'he social principals are relatively simple to e%plain1 social status is given by wealth and this it shown in proprieties 2house, car, real estates3 and services ac.uisition# 4or e%ample, the main e%plication for increased traffic congestion and as a result, pollution, is the increased numbers of vehicles purchased by -omanians as well as the development of distribution system# 'he economic growth is not only demanded by the country status of new membership but also re.uired and busted up by citi/ens# Up until the 2000th the main pollution factor for the -omanian cities was the production sector, now, in 2008, the ruttier transport became as polluting if not more polluting as the production sector# 5ere opinions are divided, not even measurements at city level can show the real picture because in most of the cases factors merge and the measurements show only combined results# ,n a particular case we can present )loiesti situation, a medium si/e city, placed in the south6east of -omania, one of the most industriali/ed cities of the country# 5ere, the local administration invested in the last decade in sustaining city development and reduce pollution at city level# 'he Local Agenda 2 was adopted in !!2, at the Earth $ummit which too* place in -io de Janeiro, as a modality to promote sustainable development# 'he 7runtland report defined sustainable development as 8development that satisfies the present needs without compromising the capacities for future generations in satisfying their own needs9# ,n )loiesti, the programme Local Agenda 2 was implemented between 200 and 200: and estabished the fallowing ob(ectives1 6 6 6 6 6 Economic ;evelopment Environment protection ,ncreased life standard Local traditions preservation and e.ual access to education )ublic participation to ta*ing decision process#

'he Local Agenda 2 tries to establish a balance between economic development, social e.uity and environment protection# 'he concept of sustainable development imposes a permanent reevaluation of the relation between people and nature as well as solidarity between generations, as the only viable option for development on long term#

United <ation ;evelopment )rogram, through its office in -omania actively promoted sustainable development by its support for this pro(ect, not only in )loiesti but in another 8 -omanian cities# 'he concept of sustainable development definition for )loiesti underlined aspects of local politics, involving different categories of sta*eholders# 4allowing the Agenda, until 20 = this strategy will allow the decision correlation lin*ed to community progress, straitening the needed fallowing steps to a sustainable development# At this point, 2008, the local administration is involved in : ma(or programs that intend to reduce what has become one of the city0s main pollution factors1 traffic congestion which has, as result, traffic pollution# 'he programs are named U>),;U, $U&&E$$ and $),&?&LE$# U>),;U is 'he ,ntegrated )lan for Urban ;evelopment that has the main activities established1 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 rehabilitation of main local roads, including passages and bridges+ developing an inter6modal traffic system+ e%tensive development and use of non6polluting traffic modes+ increase green surfaces1 par*s and gardens+ insuring a health infrastructure available for citi/ens of the growth pole encouraging and cooperating with private companies for sustainable social services+ increase capacity for social and health services+ improve infrastructure for research and university education as well as lower levels of education, etc#

$U&&E$$ is the acronym for $maller Urban &ommunities in &ivitas for Environmentally $ustainable $olutions# All research and demonstration of $U&&E$$ activities are organi/ed in the different wor* pac*ages# @ &lean and energy efficient vehicles A ,n )loiesti :0 buses were transformed from diesel engines buses to L)B engine buses# @ Access management A &reation of an access controlled area within the city centre# @ $timulation of collective transport modes A ,mprove infrastructure for collective transport modes @ <ew concepts for the distribution of Boods distribution

@ ,nnovative soft measures A ,mplementation of new infrastructures for wal*ing and cycling# @ 'elematics A ,mplementation of a B)$ system for the )' &ompany fleet in order to monitor it and supply real time information to users# 'he share of cycling in the world is increasing# $picycles is one of the ,ntelligent Energy Europe $'EE- pro(ects that aim to demonstrate that the share of cycling can be increased even more# &olleague pro(ects in EuropeCs $'EE- are 7ypad and Astute+ many other pro(ects wor* in parallel to strengthen the efforts# 4ront -unner &ities in $picycles are1 7arcelona, 7erlin, 7ucharest, BDteborg, )loiesti, -ome# 'hey address issues such as1 6 6 6 6 ,ntroduction of bi*e6sharing schemes+ ,mplementation of communication and awareness raising campaigns+ ,ntegration of cycling planning in the overall spatial and transport planning+ 7uilding local partnerships

'hese front runner cities will also lead in the in the E7enchmar*ingE and E&ity &haracteristics -eportingE of $picycles in which "0 more cities can choose to also participate# All : pro(ects have as one of the main ob(ective to increase air .uality by reducing traffic pollution mainly by1 encouraging alternative transport modes and implementing measures to restrict or limit traffic access# 'hey are all co6financed by the European &ommunity and many of the numbered measures have already been implemented# 'he Environmental Agency of )loiesti monitors the air .uality, measuring this way, from the environmental point of view, the results of implemented measures# Fith all efforts of Local Administration the air samples do not show a significant improvement of air .uality for )loiesti city, as is registered in the fallowing tables, for the last : years 2see table # , #2 and #:3# 'his, not necessary mean that the Local Administration efforts are in vane# &onsidering the specificity of each city area and the measures implemented, we can analy/e the evolution of air polluting factors#

Ta!le 1" 2005 Environmental agency readings on air pollution

$tation )ollution factor <umber of samples over the limit 2 = : 2 0 0 0 "2 0 : : 0 0 ": 0 0 0 0 H8 0 0 0 2 0 :" 0 0 0 0 JH " 0 2 0 0 0 8H >a%imum registered concentration 2mgGm:3 : 0#028 0# H 0# 08 0#0= 0#00H" 0#0 8 0# =" =#8 0#0 J 0# ! 0#08: 0#02= 0# == 0#0 = 0#0!" 0#0:2 0#00:: 0#0 22 0# =H 0#0 ! 0#0!" 0#02HJ 0#00= 0#0 2: 0# =H 0#00: 0# 2 0#0=: 0# ": 0#0 8 0# =J 0#028 0#08" 0# 2 0#0208 0#00H2 0#0 ! 0# =J Average accepted value 2mgGm:3 H 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 "#000 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 Average concentration 2mgGm:3 = 0#002:! 0#02!8 0#02 H 0#0 =J 0#00 : 0#0 02 0# H"2 :#": 0#00222 0#028= 0#02 2 0#0 =J 0# H" 0,00 8 0#02J 0#0 =" 0#00 = 0#0 H 0# H=" 0,00 8H 0#02=J 0,0 =: 0#00 =J 0#0 0=J 0# H=J 0,00 "8 0#02J 0#0 88! 0#0 " 0#0 0 8 0# H": 0#002=2 0#02=" 0#0228 0,0 =" 0#00 H" 0,0 0: 0, H=! Average trend " #H!:8 0#80= #0=H2 0#0= 2# "J #00 0#!!J: #0 "8 0#8 2 #0J 0#!2! # 2= 0#8: 0#!0J #""J 0#!8 # 2! 0#!2H 0#8J! #=J #00J #002 #08H 0#!0! 0#!!! 0#!=: 0#!!8 0#!!J #" = 0#8! #08" 0#! " #!J: #0 " 0#!!!

0 'he west city side

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 &I 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 )> 0 5&5I <5: $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: $I2 5 2$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

<orth east city side

East city side

$outh city side

<orth city side

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

&ity center

Ta!le 2" 2006 Environmental agency readings on air pollution

$tation

)ollution factor

0 'he west city side

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 &I 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 )> 0 5&5I <5: $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: $I2 5 2$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

<umber of samples over the limit 2 : == 0 0 !! 0 H 0 8! 0 0 0 0 0 "H 0 2 0 0 J0 0 2 0 0 0 !8 = 0 : 0 H

>a%imum registered concentration 2mgGm:3 : 0#0 : 0# ": 0# 8! 0# ! 0#00J2 0#0 22 0# =! =#J" 0#0 : 0# H 0# "2 0# " 0# " 0#00:J 0#0J= 0# !" 0#00J2 0#0 2 0# =J 0#00:J 0# H 0# !" 0#0088 0#0 2 0# =8 0#00:J 0# := 0# H! 0# H8 0#0 2 0# " 0#0 8 0#0!J 0# 8" 0# 22 0#00!2 0#0 2= 0# "

Average accepted value 2mgGm:3 H 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 "#000 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0

Average concentration 2mgGm:3 = 0#002: 0#0:8 0#0= 0#020H 0#002 0#0 0H 0# HJ2 :#J 0: 0#0022 0#02!8 0#022 0#0 !8 0# H"2 0#002 0#02JH 0#0 8H 0#002 0#0 H 0# H"H 0#002 0#002! 0#0 JJ 0#002 0#0 0H 0# H"= 0#002 0#0:28 0#0:28 0#0 8H 0#0 0: 0# HJ 0#002! 0#02J! 0#0:"8 0#0 !H 0#002: 0#0 0: 0# HJ0

Average trend

" 0#!H" #282 2#:88 #2!! #" = #02 #00J #022 0#!!= #0H" #0:8 #2" #00 # #0 = # J! #::: #00J #00= #08J # 28 # =J #::8 0#!8H #00= # ! #2 #J:" # H: #0 2 #00= # = #0!0 #" H #2HH #=J= #000 #008

'he north east city side

'he east city side

'he south city side

'he north city side

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

&ity center

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

!J

Ta!le #" 2007 Environmental agency readings on air pollution

$tation

)ollution factor

0 'he west city side

5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 &I 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 )> 0

<umber of samples over the limit 2 H " !2 0 2 0 ": J = H : 0 =H 0 " 0 0 : 0 0 2 0 :" 0 H H 0 0 "" " 0 :H 0 H 0 =J

>a%imum registered concentration 2mgGm:3 : 0#0 JJ 0# 0! 0# != 0# 2 0#008" 0# "= 8# 0! 0# 8 0# H" 0# 22 0#2: 0# =J 0#00! 0# 2J 0#08! 0#008 0#0 2 0# == 0#00=" 0# HJ 0# 0" 0#0088 0#0 = 0# =8 0#008! 0# 2J 0# J 0#0J" 0#0 2 0# " 0#0 J8 0#0"JH 0# 8= 0#0J= 0#00!2 0#0 2 0# "=

Average accepted value 2mgGm:3 H 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 "#000 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#0 2 0# =0 0#0 2 0# 00 0# 00 0#2=0 0#008 0#0 2 0# =0

Average concentrat ion 2mgGm:3 = 0#0022 0#0:H: 0#0JJ" 0#0 "8 0#0022 0# H"2 :#=J2J 0#002H 0#0:0 0#0:2: 0#0 808 0# H=J 0#002 0#02JJ 0#0 =J 0#00 ! 0#00!!= 0# H== 0#0020! 0#0::" 0#0 H H 0#00 8 0#00!J 0# H=H 0#002 J 0#0:0J 0#0:=2 0#0 H": 0#00!J: 0# H"2" 0#0028 0#02=" 0#0HH2 0#0 H! 0#0022 0#00!: 0# H"

Average trend

" 0#!8" 0#!0:2 #= JJ 0#82H= #0::H 0#!!:2 0#!": #200 #0 0H #H"82 0#! :2 0#!!"" #0= #00!= 0#8=H! 0#!== 0#J0=J 0#!!:! #0H= # H! 0#J!8! 0#8::H 0#!::J 0#!!2= #08= 0#!:" #0J:= 0#J!= 0#!HHJ 0#!!H: 0#!"2 0#! "2 #20 ! 0#JJ2 0#0!H:= 0#!0 0#!!:

'he north east city side

'he east city side

5&5I <5: $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: $I2 5 2$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0 5&5I <5: <I2 $I2 52$ $IH26 K ae# 52$IH )> 0

'he south city side

'he north city side

&ity center

4rom 200= to 2008, the numbers of vehicles in use increased from ," cars per person to :,2 cars per person, according to Local Administration 4inance# 'his number includes all cars registered in )loiesti, regardless of its ownership1 citi/ens or companies# ,n $eptember 200", a local administration decision regulated traffic for heavy duty vehicles1 routes and ta%es# ,n the central area of the city, no over :,= tones vehicles are allowed# As much as possible, vehicles over J,= were deviated in the outside of the city, towards interchange points# Fithin city center between beginning of 200" and beginning of 200J an access controlled area was created and traffic was deviated in order to achieve minimum level of pollution, without restricting too much inhabitants# ,n order to evaluate the impact of implemented measures we also have to ta*e under consideration the evolution of traffic levels within the city#
Ta!le $" Tra%%ic level %or t&e surroun'ing access controlle' area Average Average ve&icle ve&icle num!er num!er Area (treets )e&icles*&our )e&icles*&our +une 200, -arc& 200. 'he only street B#;# Bherea !J8 ::8 passing through the clear area 'he southern Bheorghe La/ar 2J8 JH0 street limiting the area 'he northern $treet closed and )ar*ing space )ar*ing space street limiting the transformed, before area &,L,'A$ in )ar*ing $pace 'he east side of <icolae 7alcescu !:H =2H clear area 'he west side of -epublicii J2: 880 the clear area 7oulevard 'otal number of cars passing in the =02H HH82 surrounding of access controlled area

'he number of vehicles decreased for B#;# Bherea $treet because the street has been reorgani/ed and instead of an e%tra band, there were build sideways par*ing spaces#

Fhen considering heavy traffic vehicles, buses were not included# ,t is considered that the number of buses passing daily through the city has not changed significantly since 200= to date# 'he variation in traffic levels and pollution is considered to be given by the increased number of supply transport vehicles# 'he traffic levels for heavy vehicles were data collected at the entering points of each side of the city# Ta!le ," Tra%%ic levels %or &eavy ve&icles/ compare' measurements &ity area Average number of heavy vehicles per hour June 200= "2 := 20 H: JJ 0 Average number of vehicles per hour >arch 2008 0 80 J2 8" !: 0

'he west city side 'he north east city side 'he east city side 'he south city side 'he north city side 'he city center

7efore stating conclusions we have to mention that all measuring points of Environmental Agency are situated within the city, at around : to = *m from the entering point of the city and heavy vehicles are allowed to travel only in the last interior ring of roads inside side the city, connected to the highway and roads of )rahova &ounty# Conclusions 'he )loiesti Environmental Agency has no technologies to measure <IM emissions, the most important traffic pollution factor+ still measurements cover other significant pollution factors1 <I2, <5:, $I2, )> 0 2)articulate concentration3, etc# 2see tables above3# 4irst we have to mention the fact that the annual average concentration registered for all years and pollution factors never e%ceeded the average accepted value, still, for particulate concentration the average registered value is very close to the accepted one# 'he main pollution factors with )> 0 are the petroleum industry 2very developed in )loiesti, but with a decreasing activity in the last five years3 and traffic increase# &omparing 200= readings with the 200"th , it reveals an increase of average concentration for all areas and all indicators considered, especially for the pollution factors connected to traffic increase1 <I2, <5:, $I2 and )> 0# As the tables and 2 show, the numbers of samples over the limit and average concentrations were increased significantly#

4or e%ample, in the west city side, <I2 more than 00N in concentration and =: more samples over the limit in the entire year compare with the 2 samples from 200=# 4or <5:, the average concentration increases with 2J,=N, and instead of : samples were registered over the limit# 4or particulate concentration we have a similar situation# 'his e%ample shows the trend for all regions of the city# ,n the beginning of 200J, when the access controlled area was implemented and the restriction for heavy duty vehicles were already functional, the measurements showed a decrease in traffic pollution close to levels registered in 200=, even if traffic measurements show 2see table =3 an increase traffic of heavy vehicles at the city e%tremities# 'he impact of the access controlled area implementation is shown in measurements made for the city center# Fhen comparing results for measurements in the city center for all : years, it can be noticed that <5: average concentration reached the level from 200=, $I2 annual concentration decreased more than for 200= and )> 0 annual concentration even if it registered the same level as in 200=, the number of samples over the limit decreased to =J compared to the 8H samples over the limit in 200=# 'he same trend can be noticed for all traffic pollution factors# 'he only anomaly showed by the measurements in the central area is the significant increase of <I2 with a doubled average concentration compared with 200= and :H samples over the limit instead of only 2 in 200=# >any suppositions can be made1 from the e%istence of another pollution source, to the composition of used fuel# 'he e%istence of another pollution source only for <I2, in the city center, was re(ected by University specialists# An interview with top " professors in chemistry and engineering, showed as the main possible of such <I2 concentration, the construction of cars0 e%haustion filters# Apparently, cars with EU-I 2, : and H engines, are e.uipped with e%haustion filters that are rapidly deteriorating, and if not changed and recommended periods, release more <IM in the atmosphere# 'he theory is plausible because in the last two years an important mass of second hand cars with EU-I 2, : or H engines were bought by )loiesti population from European Union# 7ibliography
# 7# >c*ibben, 4ight Blobal Farming <ow1 'he 5andboo* for 'a*ing Action in ?our &ommunity, 5enry 5olt O &ompany, 200J#

2# Environmental )olicy in the European Union1 Actors, ,nstitutions and )rocesses, Edited by Andrew Jordan, Earthscan, 200=#

:# )loiesti Environmental Agency website www#apmph#ro H# &ity 5all website www#ploiesti#ro

=# Jean6>arie 7oussier, LuminiPa ,on67oussier, Augustin >itu, &QtQlin )opescu, &e management visant l'amelioration de la mobilite urbaine Iradea, ,nternational conference1 9European ,ntegration A new challenges for -omanian Economy9 third edition, 2=62" >ay 200J,