Background – Alongside poverty, environmental pollution is becoming an increasingly serious problem in Bolivia . In recent years, vehicular traffic has increased enormously, evidence of the economic recovery. The downside is the growing air pollution, up to 70 per cent of which is, according to estimates, attributable to road traffic. Also growing is the national fleet of vehicles, largely through the importation of second-hand cars, which often pump out particularly high levels of harmful substances.

The project – The causes of air pollution are neither exclusively technical, nor political or economic in nature, but a rather combination of all of these factors. Since 2003 “Aire Limpio“ (clean air) has been tackling the problem on several levels. First of all, everyone must be made aware that measures aimed at protecting the air are not luxuries, but absolute necessities and an investment in the future. This will be achieved by means of an awareness-raising campaign aimed at those workers, who are the source of the air pollution, such as vehicle mechanics, dealers and drivers, and also at politicians, the media and the general public. All those involved in the project remain at the disposal of the competent authorities to provide advice as the latter build up an observational network to measure the pollution levels. At the suggestion of Aire Limpio, universities have carried out studies on the health consequences of air pollution and evaluated the alternatives (e.g. conversions to low-emission gas engines). Aire Limpio is supporting politicians and public institutions to draw up and implement strategies and guidelines aimed at controlling air pollution. The measures have been designed to improve the air quality in the four largest cities, namely La Paz , El Alto, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz . As good air spreads outwards just as bad air does, its beneficial effects will be felt throughout Bolivia . Not least because such concrete measures also constitute technical progress, and are, therefore, a boost for the Bolivian economy.