Global Trends in Motor Vehicle Pollution Control - A 1997 Update

At the present time, as the world's vehicle population inches over 700 million, countries around the world are continuing to struggle with their motor vehicle pollution problems. Some countries have made great progress in reducing CO and HC emissions from vehicles, and to a lesser extent NO_X, in spite of substantial growth in their vehicle populations. While car standards continue to be pushed, the motor vehicle focus is gradually shifting to heavy duty trucks and buses and off road vehicles and engines. Fuels improvements are also playing an increasingly important role. Finally, concerns with CO₂ and other greenhouse gases are getting increased attention. The purpose of this paper will be to provide a broad overview of these developments, highlighting the successes achieved to date and the future challenges.