The Ilo Clean Air Project: a local response to industrial pollution control in Peru

Abstract

This paper describes the very high levels of air pollution generated in the city of Ilo and its surroundings by a nearby copper smelter, and the efforts of the local authorities to address the problem. After many years of limited results in seeking to persuade the copper smelter’s owners to reduce emissions, in 1997 Ilo’s local authorities began implementing the Ilo Clean Air project, with support from international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council for Local Environmental Inititiatives (ICLEI). A system that monitors levels of sulphur dioxide and suspended particulate matter was developed. The project also assesses the impacts of air pollution on the health of children and on crops, and it has developed a contingency plan to limit health impacts during air pollution episodes. The Ilo Clean Air project complements many other environmental management innovations implemented over the last 20 years for which Ilo has become well-known. Past experience shows that a positive vision of the future, a local authority committed to consultation, and consistent leadership are key factors in successful urban management.