Author: Aurélia Lemoine

The 13th International Workshop on Atmospheric Modeling Research in East Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

1 February 2023 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET co-organized the 13th International Workshop on Atmospheric Modeling Research in East Asia with the community of MICS-Asia, on 22-23 December 2022. About 60 participants joined the virtual workshop.

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Improving Air Quality Models: from Data to Policy

According to the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA), air quality modeling is “a mathematical simulation of how air pollutants disperse and react in the atmosphere to affect ambient air quality.” Through these calculations, researchers and policymakers develop predicted scenarios and design strategies to reduce the adverse effects of air pollution.

Over the years, the EANET has maintained a close relationship with the community of Model Inter-Comparison Studies for Asia (MICS-Asia). The International Workshop on Atmospheric Modeling Research in East Asia is a regular workshop of MICS-Asia which has received support from the EANET throughout the previous Medium Term Plans and was part of the EANET Project Activities in 2022. Summaries of previous MICS-Asia workshops are available in the Reports of the Session of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) on the EANET.

Four working groups were established as part of the MICS-Asia Phase IV: the Air Quality Model working group, the Air Quality and Climate Model working group, the Emission Inventory working group, and the Observation working group. MICS-Asia Phase IV working groups focus on specific issues including the intercomparison of air quality models, the study of the influence of climate change on the status of air quality, the development of reliable emission inventories for model working groups, and the survey and collection of data to establish trends of concentrations of air pollutants in East Asia.

Among other sources, MICS-Asia experts referred to the results of the EANET’s 4th Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4) and to the EANET monitoring data to conduct their research.

Screenshot from some participants during the virtual 13th International Workshop on Atmospheric Modeling Research in East Asia

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Modeling and Impact Assessment Studies

During the workshop, international experts in modeling and impact assessment studies shared various presentations based on research activities in Asia and beyond.

Dr. Christian Hogrefe, from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, introduced the Air Quality Modelling Evaluation International Initiative Phase 4 (AQMEII4) which applies detailed dry deposition diagnostics to a range of air quality models and their deposition schemes. Dr. Baozhu Ge, from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, shared a presentation on the enhanced wet deposition of nitrogen induced by a landfalling typhoon over East Asia. Dr. Natsumi Kawano, from the Center for Environmental Science, in Saitama, Japan, gave a presentation on the impact of future climate change on tropospheric ozone in Japan using the WRF-CMAQ modeling system and the RCP8.5 scenario. Dr. Syuichi Itahashi, from the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, Japan, shared a presentation on the changes in transboundary aerosol components due to the emission variations in East Asia. Dr. Xiao Tang, from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, gave a presentation on high-resolution aerosol data over China simulated by the NAQPMS modeling system and an inversed emission inventory. Dr. Naoyuki Yamashita, from the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan, shared a presentation on the critical load of soil acidification and surface water eutrophication in the EANET Participating Countries, and Dr. Baiyao Xu, from Nanjing University, China, gave a presentation on the impacts of meteorological factors and ozone variation on crop yields in China related to the carbon neutrality objectives in 2060 and based on RegCM-Chem-YIBs.

Results from the MICS-Asia Phase IV working groups’ research activities and collaboration with international experts will allow to improve the scientific understanding of air quality issues in the region, but also provide informed knowledge for policy-making in Asia.

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Useful Resources

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Photo credits: featured photo of Dong Van, Viet Nam (2021) by Giles Freeman on Unsplash ; other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

EANET kicks-off its first Project Fund Activity on Volatile Organic Compounds

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

16 February 2023 – Niigata, Japan

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment of Japan and with the technical support of the Network Center for the EANET, the first EANET Project Activity launched its online kick-off meeting on 15 February. It gathered over 40 participants mainly from Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand, involved in sharing or receiving technical assistance related to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring.

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Why Volatile Organic Compounds?

Since the recent expansion of the scope of the EANET from acid deposition monitoring to wider air pollution action, the Network has started to carry out activities related to additional chemical species, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

VOCs are “compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants” according to the US-EPA. In addition, several emission sources such as biogenic emissions, forest fires, waste burning including plastic, automobile exhaust, fossil fuel burning, and stock farming can produce VOCs. Exposure to VOCs may have various dangerous health effects from eyes, throat, and nose irritation to more serious conditions such as liver, kidney, or central nervous system damage, sometimes leading to cancer.

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Representation of PM2.5 and Ozone Co-contrail, by Prof. Hajime Akimoto (all rights reserved).

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VOCs are also precursors of particulate matter and ozone. It is important to measure VOCs to better understand how to mitigate air pollutants emissions.

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Learning more about VOCs emissions in East Asia

VOCs monitoring is complex due to its complicated source characteristics and costly measuring technology. For this reason, its monitoring is still at an early stage in Asia.

The “Feasibility for Promoting VOCs related Capacity Building in the EANET” project is part of the first batch of EANET Projects funded by the EANET Project Fund. Supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, the project is coordinated by the Network Center for the EANET.

Through this project, experts in VOCs from the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS), in Japan will share their knowledge and assist the government officials from Mongolia and from the Philippines to develop their 3-year national implementation plan. During the kick-off meeting, Government representatives from the Philippines and Mongolia shared their plans and priorities for tackling VOCs.

Screenshot from participants during the kick-off meeting

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In addition, a VOC Advisory Group composed of experts from the NC and EANET countries has been brought together and will also give guidance on feasible measurement methods, data analysis, identification of the target species to measure VOCs, and feasible reduction measures.

At this stage, the implementation partners are environmentalists from Mongolia and from the Philippines. However, the project’s goal is to serve all the EANET countries and be further replicated.

The next meeting will take place in person in Manila in May 2023 to continue discussions on the feasibility and methodology of VOCs management.

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Interested in finding out more about the EANET Project Fund? Read more on how to fund or submit an EANET Project.

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Photo credits: featured photo by Anton Eprev on Unsplash (2019); other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

EANET joins forces in Mongolia with regional and global partners to fight air pollution at the High-Level Forum on Clean Air

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

9 March 2023 – Bangkok, Thailand

EANET, as one of the existing intergovernmental bodies in Asia, collaborated in the organization of the High-Level Forum on Clean Air, alongside the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asian and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 2 to 3 March 2023. The Forum supported the operationalization of ESCAP’s recently adopted Asia-Pacific Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP).

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The High-Level Forum on Clean Air

The Forum gathered around 100 participants including high-level representatives from governments, national experts, researchers, and representatives from regional organizations working on air pollution.

Among key high-level representatives, H.E. Mr. Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Prime Minister of Mongolia; H.E. Mr. Naseer Ahamed, Minister of Environment of Sri Lanka; Ms. Armida Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP, and Ms. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific Office, UN Environment Programme, joined the hybrid event.

Watch the Opening Session

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The Forum aimed at presenting and discussing the implementation of the Asia-Pacific Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP), adopted at the 7th session of the ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development in 2022. Various sessions were organized, including a ministerial roundtable, sessions on air quality management, monitoring, best practices, capacity building, air quality data and standards, and partnerships through the RAPAP.

Stakeholders from a wide variety of countries, from Asia and beyond, organizations, and sectors shared their experience in actively leading air pollution-related actions, showing the abundance of expertise in the domain.

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Sharing EANET’s Long-term Expertise in Air-quality Monitoring and Capacity Building

The EANET, as a key regional intergovernmental organization for East Asia, along with the North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP), was invited to share its expertise in several sessions.

Prof. Meng Fan, Deputy Director-General of the Network Center for the EANET, shared EANET’s two decades of experience during Session 2: Air Quality Monitoring Session. He highlighted the trends of air pollution and acid deposition in the EANET region, including the decrease of sulphur dioxide over time, and the increase of ozone, in Southeast Asia specifically. He also explained the impacts of acidification in forests and inland waters in the region.

Watch Prof. Meng’s presentation (at 35’06’’)

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Mr. Bert Fabian, the Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET, was invited as a panelist in Session 3: Best Practice Sharing and Capacity Building. In his presentation, he explained the role of EANET in strengthening the data-science-policy link over the past two decades, highlighting the capacity-building and training activities achieved by the Network, and presented the new Project Activities in 2023. He called for increased cooperation amongst various partners in support of Project activities in 2024.

Mr. Kwon-Ho Jeon, a Senior coordinator at the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), Republic of Korea, presented NIER’s training activities particularly on the upcoming TNT and Capacity Building Program in 2023, a partnership between NIER and EANET.

Watch Mr. Fabian’s and Mr. Jeon’s presentations (at 4’20’’ and 11’53’’)

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The High-Level Forum offered a meeting point for many organizations and government representatives. Several stakeholders mentioned ongoing participation in the EANET, such as Ms. Uranchimeg Tserendorj the Director-General of the Natural Resources Policy Coordination Department from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia, and Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines.

EANET will explore opportunities to cooperate amongst various partners to complement the implementation of the RAPAP. EANET will continue to play a key role in Northeast and Southeast Asia in air quality and acid deposition management.

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Interested in finding out more about EANET’s monitoring activities and findings? Read the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4).

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Photo credits: Ulaanbaatar by duku photography, free of rights, all videos: all rights reserved to Orgil Media.

Intensive training for city government officials: EANET-Clean Air Asia Workshop on Emission Inventory Development for the Management of Emissions from the Transport Sector

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

24 November 2022 – Manila, Philippines

The Network Center for the EANET (NC) and Clean Air Asia organized the EANET-Clean Air Asia Workshop on Emission Inventory Development for the Management of Emissions from the Transport Sector, an intensive training for city government officials held on November 23, 2022, in Manila, Philippines, as a side-event to the 24th Intergovernmental Meeting (IG24) on the EANET. It was attended by more than 90 participants, in-person and online, representing 14 countries from the EANET Region and beyond, gathered to learn about the different tools to calculate emissions from the transport sector and discuss the importance of using data for policy.

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Developing an Emission Inventory

Developing an emission inventory is critically important for air pollution management purposes. The accurate estimation of emissions from various sources such as factories, power plants, cars, households, etc… allows the production of basic data, using scientific tools like environmental assessments, for policy-makers to prevent the adverse effects on human health and ecosystems of air pollution.

Presentations and panel discussion with Ms. Everlyn Tamayo, Dr. Didin Agustian Permadi, Dr. Shaojun Zhang, Ms. Kathleen Dematera-Contreras, Dr. Raymund Abad and Mr. Myron Alcanzare introduced the general principle of the emission inventory, outputs, and typical actions to be applied to policy development.

Participants also worked on an exercise on motor vehicle emissions by using a desktop program/application developed by Dr. Permadi with support from Clean Air Asia, allowing participants to apply the methodology to their respective countries/cities.

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Engaging Policymakers

Through the workshop, participants learned about the variety of methods and tools to calculate emissions from the transport sector, while noting that the final approach to be implemented would vary depending on the objectives and available resources of the personnel or city. Calculating emissions under different scenarios was recommended as it provides an overview of the impact of measures or policies. Finally, the importance of high-quality data was emphasized to build capacity and strengthen the engagement between policymakers and researchers performing the emissions inventory.

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Ways Forward

The development of an emission inventory is a powerful and essential tool for understanding the status of air pollutants emissions and considering the effectiveness of mitigation measures. EANET activities related to the development of emission inventories will continuously be conducted in the future. In 2023, EANET will organize a webinar workshop for capacity building on emission inventories related to combustion sources and explore all possibilities to strengthen cooperation with other organizations, including Clean Air Asia.

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This workshop was conducted as part of the EANET Project Activities in 2022. Find out more about the EANET Project Activities and how to participate in the EANET Project Fund.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET and Clean Air Asia.

EANET Seminar: Learnings on Reducing Emissions from Open Burning

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

7 September 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Seminar « Learnings on Reducing Emissions from Open Burning » in a hybrid format, in Suwon, Republic of Korea, and online, on 6 September 2022, with the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) (UNEP) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES) as co-organizers. The Seminar focused on good practices to reduce emissions from open burning and presented sustainable alternatives to improve air quality in the region. 144 participants from 17 countries from the Asian region and beyond joined the Seminar.

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Opening Session

Moderated by Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu, Associate Programme Officer – Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) (UNEP), the Seminar started with the Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the NC for the EANET, and by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Memon also co-moderated the second part of the Seminar.

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Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama and Dr. Mushtaq Memon delivered the opening remarks.

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Remarks emphasized the new role of the EANET with the expansion of its scope from acid deposition to air pollution (including PM2.5), and the technical and financial challenges leading to open burning practices in the region.

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Open Biomass Burning and Regional Challenges

Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, a Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, at Thammasat University, Thailand, presented the various causes of open burning in Thailand, with a particular focus on Northern Thailand’s situation and showed the direct impacts on air quality, the environment, and public health. In his presentation, he highlighted the challenges and needs for more government-driven incentives, policies, technical assistance, and education toward non-burning agricultural practices.

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Panelists during the Seminar. From left to right: Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu, Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Ms. Etwin Sabarini, Dr. Eric Zusman, Dr. Alison Simcox, and Ms. Azka Ghaida.

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Sharing Good Practices to Reduce Open Burning

Ms. Etwin Sabarini, Programme Coordinator, Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA), ASEAN Secretariat introduced the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. She explained the history, objective, and framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and focused her talk on the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) initiative aiming at conserving peatlands, the largest carbon store in the ASEAN region.

Ms. Do Van Nguyet, Director at Live & Learn for Environment and Community, then shared examples of good practices from Viet Nam, including their collective action to control open burning in Hanoi. These included: policy development, monitoring, and technical assistance with a special focus on multi-stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Eric Zusman, a Senior Policy Researcher and Area Leader at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES), presented priority actions in Southeast Asia to reduce open burning, and possible solutions, while analyzing barriers to their implementation based on the example of Thailand. To deal with these barriers, he explained the polycentric system approach, where different governing authorities may organize themselves in non-hierarchical relationships, and he emphasized the need to mix solutions of alternatives to open burning.

Dr. Alison Simcox, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), shared an overview of agricultural burning and smoke management in the USA. After explaining the history of agricultural burning practices, she detailed the recent changes in practices and the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) focusing on the Smoke Management Program (SMP) and on alternatives to burning in the USA, such as no-till farming.

Dr. Ken Yamashita summarized the Seminar.

Ms. Azka Ghaida, an Air Quality and Climate Research Analyst at the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Indonesia, presented the use case of crop residue open burning in Indonesia by explaining the cause of the phenomenon, the government’s action, the barriers, and the solutions such as education and community involvement, sustainable farming and farm management practices.

Dr. Ken Yamashita who is Head of the Planning and Training Department at the Network Center for the EANET (ACAP) thanked all panelists and participants and summarized the Seminar by highlighting the key points of the challenges such as technical, financial limitations but also cultural barriers, and opportunities including mixed alternatives and operating in polycentric governance systems, to reduce open burning practices from ASEAN, Thailand, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and the USA.

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Useful Resources

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For further inquiries, contact the Network Center for the EANET.

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Photo credits: featured photo of Mù Cang Chai, Mù Cang Chai District, Yên Bái, Viet Nam (2020) by Hoach Le Dinh on Unsplash, other photos: all rights reserved to the EANET.

EANET Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using LCS

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

23 August 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using Low-Cost Sensor (LCS) online on 21 July 2022. It gathered representatives, experts, and practitioners of air quality monitoring from the EANET Participating Countries, and other participants from international organizations, academia, and monitoring-related service providers. 127 participants joined the Seminar.

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Opening Session

The Seminar started with the Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the NC for the EANET, and by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Remarks were followed by an Introductory Presentation by Mr. Taku Ohmura from the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC) on the Overview of issues and opportunities of using LCS for air quality administrations and surveys.

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Understanding Challenges and Opportunities of LCS

Key presentations by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, a Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, at Thammasat University, Thailand, and by Dr. Alison Simcox from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), delved into the limitations and opportunities of Low-cost sensor technology (LCS) for measuring air quality in the contexts of Thailand and of the United States.

Dr. Keiichi SATO, Head of the Atmospheric Research Department at ACAP, in charge of the NC for the EANET, then introduced the results of a survey on a Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) and related technical studies in five EANET countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

His presentation was followed by discussions and presentations by Ms. Karma Yangzom, a Principal Environment Specialist from the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on ADB’s experience with LCS as part of the Technical Assistance (TA) 9608 on “Strengthening Knowledge and Actions for Air Quality Improvement”, and by Ms. Maria-Katharina Patdu’s presentation, an Associate Programme Officer, from the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP), at UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, on air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia.

While the lack of precision of LCS and the variety of qualities and standards of sensors, may lead to data misinterpretation and presentation issues, keynote speakers and panelists mentioned that the cost-efficiency of LCS and the wide use of these air quality sensors by “citizen-scientists” educate the public and inspire behavioral changes. In addition, the effective utilization of regular monitoring data for the quality control of LCS, the importance of consistent city, regional, and country-level monitoring, and the continued cooperation with other networks and international organizations, were also key points presented to mitigate the limitations of LCS.

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Download the Workshop’s Presentations

–Issues of LCS and Efforts Against the Issues: Thailand’s Experiences (presented by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana)

–US-EPA’s efforts on wise use of LCS (presented by Dr. Alison Simcox)

–Results of the survey on HAQMN and technical studies in some EANET Participating Countries (presented by Dr. Keiichi Sato)

–Experience in using Low-Cost Sensors under ADB TA 9608 (presented by Ms. Karma Yangzom)

–Air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia (presented by Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu)

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For further inquiries, contact the Network Center for the EANET.

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

Acid deposition in East and Southeast Asia – EANET Researchers look at the science and policy over the last 30 years

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

3 June 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The well-renowned researcher Prof. Hajime Akimoto and co-authors recently published the article Development of science and policy related to acid deposition in East Asia over 30 years on the occasion of the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the EANET. 

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Acid Deposition and its Impacts

Acid deposition is a scientific phenomenon in which air pollutants, mainly sulfur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX), and other air pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels and forest fires. They are transformed via long-range transport and chemical reactions with water, oxygen, and other atmospheric chemicals, which produce nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and other acids in the atmosphere and come down on the earth’s surface. The deposition of acids on the surface causes detrimental impacts on the ecosystem, water bodies, soil, forests, and infrastructures.

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Evaluation of Policy Development

Based on three decades of knowledge on acid deposition in East Asia, Professor Akimoto and co-authors in EANET summarized the development of science and policy on acid deposition in East Asia over the period of 30 years.

In this article, the authors reviewed the state of acid deposition in East Asia since the 1980s and early 1990s and report important information on acidification of inland water, forest soil, and forest decline in the East Asia region.

In the context of broadening the scope of the EANET to include wider air pollution issues, Akimoto et al. also analyzed the past successes and future challenges the EANET will face in the coming years.

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Read the full article on the following link: Akimoto et al. (2022), Development of science and policy related to acid deposition in East Asia over 30 years, Ambio, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01702-6

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Continue the discussion on science, policy, and acid deposition in East Asia and ask questions to Professor Akimoto during The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia, from data to policy online awareness workshop on 20 June 2022.

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Photo credits: Indonesia by Ali Burhan (2021), free of the copyright license.

Mr. Bert Fabian appointed new EANET Coordinator

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

26 May 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Secretariat is pleased to announce that the recruitment of a Temporary Job Opening (TJO) for an interim EANET Coordinator has been successfully completed with the selection of Mr. Bert Fabian, effective on 1 June 2022.

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Mr. Fabian has been with The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a Programme Officer since 2013 as lead for the Sustainable Mobility Unit’s activities in Asia and the Pacific. He has supported more than 15 countries in developing policies on transport, air pollution, and climate change and managed projects worth about 13.5 million USD including about 5.6 million USD allocated for Asia and the Pacific.

Mr. Fabian coordinated the activities of UNEP with the Global Fuel Economy Initiative and managed the Electric 2&3 Wheelers project in East Africa and Southeast Asia. He also managed projects on strengthening the air quality management community of practice in Asia and the Pacific and on understanding the relationships between COVID-19 and air quality impacts, policies, and measures in cities. Prior to joining UNEP, Mr. Fabian was the Transport Program Manager of Clean Air Asia. He has also worked for the Asian Development Bank on various transport and air quality projects.

Mr. Fabian has published and contributed to several books and studies on transport, air pollution, and climate change, like the Urban Air Pollution in Asian Cities: Status, Challenges and Management (2006) and the Transport and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Forecasts, Options Analysis, and Evaluation (2009). Mr. Fabian holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a major in Transportation, and a B.S. Biology degree from the University of the Philippines.

The EANET Coordinator can be contacted at eanetsecretariat@un.org

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Cover Photo credits: City Skyline by Thapanee Srisawat (2020), free of copyright license; profile photo: all rights reserved.

The EANET Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop on Open Biomass Burning – Join us on December 5th!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

 
1. Background

One of the key sources of particulate matter (PM) pollution in the EANET Participating Countries especially in Southeast Asia, is the open burning of biomass such as agricultural wastes, forests, and municipal wastes.

Open burning of agricultural crop residues is one of the key sources causing severe air pollution. Reducing emissions from agricultural waste burning is among the 25 recommended clean air measures in Air Pollution in the Asia Pacific: Science-Based Solutions (UNEP and CCAC, 2018).

It is essential to understand the current status of emissions from open biomass burning sources to consider effective mitigation ways. The emission inventory is a powerful tool for this purpose. However, methodologies to estimate emissions from open biomass burning are much different from those for other anthropogenic sources.

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2. Objectives and Participants

The objectives of the Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop are to learn basic methodologies to estimate emissions from open biomass burning sources including considerable uncertainties. In addition, application methodologies of the emission inventories to analyze influences of open biomass burning emissions will also be introduced. Furthermore, participants will share short presentations about issues related to open biomass burning in their country, and discussions with experts will be conducted.

Target workshop participants are technical officers, practitioners, and policymakers who are involved in air quality management issues, especially in charge of or interested in developing a national emission inventory.

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3. Agenda and Program

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4. Registration

If you would like to participate in the EANET Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop on Open Biomass Burning, please send the registration form to the Webinar Workshop Secretariat (eiwws2022@acap.asia).

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For further inquiries, contact the Network Center for the EANET.

The EANET/IIASA International Workshop on Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface for Clean Air and a Sustainable Future in Asia – Join us on 19 December!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Registration is now closed.

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1. Background

In many parts of Asia, the single greatest threat to human health and to a sustainable future is air pollution. A growing body of modeling research has employed emissions inventories, scenario development, and benefit estimation techniques to identify technological and behavioral changes that can limit that threat. The multiple benefits resulting from these interventions offer cost-effective solutions to air quality, public health, and other sustainable development concerns. One would therefore anticipate that the results that would translate easily into policy. However, this is not always the case. Frequently, there can be a disconnect between scientifically based models and the policies they seek to influence. It is therefore critical to discuss not only the most recent scientifically-based models but how that work can effectively interface with decision makers. In short, if models are going to matter, they need to be supported by efforts to strengthen the science-policy interface for clean air.

The EANET/IIASA International Workshop on Strengthening the Science-Policy Interface for Clean Air and a Sustainable Future in Asia will take place on Monday 19 December 2022, from 13:30-17:00 (Tokyo Time: UTC +9).

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2. Objectives and Participants

The primary objective of this half-day workshop is to provide learning opportunities on the state-of-the-art modeling analysis that can strengthen that interface in Asia.

This workshop consists of three sessions as follows:

  • Session 1 – Multiple development benefits of coordinated actions to tackle air pollution: This session is jointly organized by the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). The modeling analysis employed by a project activity of EANET is presented along with modeling analysis results from ongoing collaborative research projects between IIASA and the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ) on multiple development benefits of coordinated actions to tackle air pollution.
  • Session 2 – Exploit synergetic linkages among SDGs: This session presents modeling analysis results from ongoing collaborative research projects between IIASA and MOEJ on synergies of achieving several sustainable development goals.
  • Session 3 – How to implement and promote a science-policy dialogue: This panel discussion session will discuss how we can design science-policy dialogue to reflect implications from modeling analysis to policy development and to co-design models by incorporating social and institutional dimensions of feasibility.

Expected targeted participants are policymakers, scientists, researchers, practitioners, and technical officers of local/national governments working on air pollution-related problems in the EANET Participating Countries of EANET and beyond.

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3. Agenda and Program

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4. Date, Time, and Location

Date: 19 Dec 2022 (Monday)

Time: 13:30-17:00 (Tokyo Time: UTC +9)

Online: Register for the hybrid event here.

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For further inquiries, contact the Network Center for the EANET via email or by phone at (+81)25-263-0556.