The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) held its Twenty-third Session of the SAC (SAC23) Meeting from 10-12 October 2023, to discuss the progress of acid deposition and air pollution monitoring activities since 2022.
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Opening Session
Over 50 members of the SAC and/or their representatives from the Participating Countries, the Network Center, and the Secretariat for the EANET, joined the virtual meeting.
The SAC23 started with Opening Remarks from Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET. He emphasized the significance of multilateralism in tackling environmental challenges and highlighted the upcoming 2024 UN Environment Assembly which will focus on climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. He welcomed the commitment of EANET countries to address acid deposition and air pollution through partnerships and initiatives.
Welcome Remarks were delivered by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), the Network Center for the EANET. Dr. Hatakeyama highlighted the importance of the activities conducted by researchers in the past year in the EANET, including the annual Data Report preparation, QA/QC activities, training, and joint research projects. He also emphasized the success of EANET’s capacity-building efforts and highlighted important agenda items for discussion during the session.
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Screenshot from some of the SAC23 meeting participants.
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Reporting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring data in 2022
Scientists from the Network Center for the EANET presented the results from activities of acid deposition monitoring, based on data provided by the EANET Participating Countries and retrieved from their national monitoring sites for 2022. These included wet, dry, soil and vegetation monitoring from all Participating Countries, as well as catchment-scale monitoring in Japan and the Philippines. The Draft EANET Data Report 2022 and the Draft Report on the Inter-laboratory Comparison Projects in 2022 were both presented and adopted at the Session.
Discussing administrative issues supporting EANET’s further development
Finally, the SAC23 members were also invited to comment, from the scientific viewpoint, on other important documents including, the Draft EANET Progress and Financial Reports, the Work Programme and Budget for 2024, the Draft Mid-Term Review of the EANET MTP, the proposed revision of the EANET’s Administrative and Project Guidelines, and the EANET Project Plans submitted for 2024, before approval at the IG25 of EANET, to be held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, in November 2023.
The EANET Training on Air Quality Monitoring Systems Using Low-Cost Sensors took place on 6 and 7 September 2023, in Hanoi, Viet Nam, and online. The event was jointly organized by the ADB, the Network Center for the EANET, and the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change (IMHEN) and gathered 100 participants, online and in person, from the EANET Participating Countries and beyond, to learn about LCS equipment operation, quality assurance, data accuracy, early problem detection, and effective use of monitoring data.
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Opening Session
Ms. Karma Yangzom, Principal Environment Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), delivered Opening Remarks expressing gratitude for joining the Vietnam project with IMHEN. She highlighted the significance of the hybrid method in addressing monitoring resource constraints, emphasizing the need for meticulous use of LCS to ensure sensor functionality and data verification, emphasizing the importance of high-quality, verified data, and underlining the workshop’s objective to research proper LCS utilization while expressing appreciation to EANET for hosting the workshop with hopes of providing valuable information to participants.
Dr. Le Ngoc Cau, the Director of the Center of Environmental Research at the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change (IMHEN), expressed gratitude to the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, ACAP (the Network Center for the EANET) and ADB for their support in the project to establish an air quality system, highlighting the costliness of such systems in urban areas and the potential of LCS as a more affordable alternative if data accuracy can be ensured. The LCS has been installed in two provinces in Vietnam as part of the project, providing participants with a deeper understanding of its capabilities, and he thanked all the participants and EANET for organizing the workshop.
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Introduction to the use of Low-Cost Sensors in Vietnam and in other Asian Countries
Dr. Le Ngoc Cau delivered a presentation on IMHEN’s role, its air quality monitoring system, air quality modeling, and EANET activities in Vietnam. He highlighted the installation of a PM2.5 monitor in Hoa Binh station in 2015 and the collaborative installation of LCS at the same station with the Network Center. Dr. Cau emphasized the importance of verifying LCS data for reliability and the need to figure out how to integrate LCS and conventional monitoring data. They expressed interest in further collaboration with international organizations.
Ms. Karma Yangzom shared experiences from Asian countries regarding the use of Air Quality sensors in ADB projects aimed at enhancing awareness and efforts to improve air quality. She highlighted the stability of AQ Mesh sensors, which only require sensor replacements every two years, and emphasized the use of LCS to present air quality information to the public. She highlighted the importance of ensuring the reliability of the data generated from the LCS.
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EANET Projects on LCS Technical studies
Dr. Akie Yuba, a Senior Researcher from ACAP, provided a report on LCS technical studies in Vietnam and Myanmar, which were carried out as part of EANET Project Activities. In Hoa Binh, Vietnam, five LCS units were installed, with a specific focus on PM2.5 and other parameters. In Yangon, Myanmar, LCS units, specifically GBiot and Haz Scanner, were utilized for monitoring PM2.5, O3, NO2, and meteorological data during both monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. A good correlation was observed in the data, though different values were displayed in the slopes, emphasizing the need for blackout preparedness to prevent electricity voltage fluctuations.
Dr. Hiroaki Minoura, a Guest Researcher at ACAP demonstrated, along with Dr. Yuba, how to install an LCS, how to initiate it, to connect it to a data server, and how to retrieve LCS data when there are data communication issues.
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Dr. Kazuhiro Misaka, Director of Green Blue Corporation, a private company specializing in the inspection, and maintenance of environmental monitoring and measurement equipment, delivered a presentation on data screening and analysis obtained with LCS and the Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN), accompanied by Dr. Akie Yuba and Dr. Hiroaki Minoura. Dr. Misaka explained the process of screening raw LCS data and removing noise signals. Dr. Yuba discussed the screening and validation of hourly LCS data, while Dr. Minoura covered topics related to data interpretation, visualization, and trend analysis.
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Challenges and Ways Forward
In the last session, Dr. Alison Simcox from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(US-EPA) was invited to share insights on LCS experiences. She clarified that LCS data was not deemed an official guideline, and further studies on its functionality were being considered. Two key questions were introduced: the challenges encountered by LCS and Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Networks (HAQMN) in Asian countries and potential collaborations for promoting LCS in these regions. Commenting on the wrap-up for the way forward, challenges related to technology and policy in utilizing LCS were emphasized, with a focus on the need for capacity building to address issues such as calibration and data interpretation. Dr. Alison stressed the importance of understanding the purpose of LCS usage, whether it was identifying wildfires, creating smoke maps, or monitoring global changes in PM2.5.
Mr. Kenichiro Fukunaga, Deputy Director General of ACAP, delivered the Closing Remarks and conveyed his gratitude to various organizations and participants for their contributions to the workshop and to the EANET Low-cost sensor project. He expressed expectations for the expansion and enhancement of LCS activities in monitoring, research, and capacity building.
The Technical and Training (TNT) program of the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), Republic of Korea, and the EANET Capacity Building Program have joined forces in 2023 to provide training on acid deposition and air quality management in the EANET Participating Countries.
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Background
Since 2002, the EANET has trained over 200 government officials and researchers, on acid deposition and air quality management through its individual training and capacity-building activities conducted mainly at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in Niigata, Japan, which hosts the Network Center for the EANET.
The National Institute of Environmental Research(NIER), part of the Ministry of Environment in the Republic of Korea, was established in 1978. It serves as the country’s primary research institution for various environmental aspects. NIER is based in Incheon and operates 12 air quality monitoring stations and 4 river research centers. The institute conducts extensive research and policy development on environmental health, climate, air quality, water resources, and energy, and collaborates on international projects aimed at global environmental protection.
The combined TNT and EANET Capacity Building Program in 2023 has been approved at the Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG24) on the EANET, as a Project Activity, co-funded by the EANET Project Fund and the Republic of Korea.
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NIER’s TNT and EANET’s Capacity Building Program in 2023
In 2023, the Program was organized in two sessions. Each session was divided into two parts happening alternatively in the Republic of Korea and in Japan. Eight government officials and researchers (four per session) from the EANET Participating Countries were selected to participate in the training, based on their submitted applications that indicate their professional backgrounds, technical implications in monitoring activities, and motivation.
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Lecture at the Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Health
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Session 1 took place in Japan from 14 to 20 May 2023, and in the Republic of Korea, from 20 May to 2 June 2023.
During the training in Japan, participants visited the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, in Tsukuba City, where they received briefings and tours of the Earth Area Study and regional study laboratories. While at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), in Niigata, participants attended lectures covering various atmospheric environmental issues. The training program included lectures on various topics, such as the ecological impacts of atmospheric deposition and air pollution in Europe, the USA, and Asia. It also covered methods for monitoring soil, vegetation, inland aquatic environments, and catchment areas. Furthermore, the program included lectures on quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities in EANET, data reporting procedures, an inter-laboratory comparison project, the analysis of EANET monitoring data (Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia), and an introduction to emission inventory and air quality modeling. Finally, participants also visited the EANET Niigata-Maki monitoring site.
In the Republic of Korea, participants received the training in the NIER premises, in Incheon, where lectures were delivered by senior researchers from NIER’s Climate and Air Quality Research Department. These experts provided insights into their main responsibilities, ongoing projects, and the specialized tools and instruments used in their divisions. Additionally, the trainees had the opportunity to visit the Atmospheric Environment and Climate Change Laboratory at Seoul National University (SNU) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST). During these visits, they attended lectures conducted by professors from the Graduate School of Public Health, SNU, focusing on international projects like CASA, which is a clean air initiative for ASEAN member states. The trainees also explored NIER’s Jeju monitoring station and the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea. At these locations, they received presentations on the Republic of Korea’s policies and strategies for managing air pollution, emphasizing comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and forecasting of air pollutant sources.
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Hands-on experiment at the Laboratory of Seoul National University
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The Second session started in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 10 to 24 September 2023 and in Niigata, Japan, from 24 to 30 September 2023.
In the Republic of Korea, the program included visits to key organizations under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, including the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center and the Jeju Island Air Quality Monitoring Center. Participants also visited University laboratories actively involved in air pollution research. To address trainees’ requests for hands-on experience, the 1st program was arranged by the Atmospheric Environment and Climate Change (AECC) Lab at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Health, which has been collaborating with NIER on Korea-China joint research since 2017. During this session, trainees conducted pretreatment and analysis of air pollutant sources, collected samples, and analyzed monitoring results using analytical instruments. They also explored UNIST’s facilities for monitoring and analyzing air pollutant sources and learned about various international projects related to air pollution research in the East Asia Region. The National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center provided insights into forecasting air pollutant movement and related policies, while the Jeju Island Air Quality Monitoring Center introduced its monitoring and analysis instruments and cooperative efforts with other NIER monitoring centers across the country, as well as the Korea Meteorological Administration, to improve the accuracy of forecasting the concentration of particulate matter.
Session 2 at ACAP was designed to offer hands-on training in wet and dry deposition monitoring. The aim of the training was to enhance participants’ expertise and skills in atmospheric deposition, specifically focusing on the filter pack method and ion chromatography. The laboratory sessions included various technical exercises covering topics such as pH and electrical conductivity measurements, filter pack sampling, and the standard operating procedures for inorganic ions analysis. The exercises were complemented by practical demonstrations of laboratory techniques.
Additionally, the training program featured a site visit to the Niigata–Maki Station. During this visit, participants had the opportunity to observe wet-only samplers (both weekly and daily), the filter pack system, automatic monitors for SO2, NOx, O3, PM2.5, and PM2.5 components, as well as meteorology monitors. This visit familiarized participants with the field equipment used in air quality monitoring.
The feedback survey indicated that all 8 participants found the program to be valuable and it is anticipated that the experience and knowledge gained from the program will be shared with their colleagues in their respective countries, further enhancing expertise in air quality management in the EANET Participating Countries.
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The combined TNT and EANET Capacity Building Program in 2023 has been co-funded by the EANET Project Fund and the Republic of Korea. Find out more about EANET’s Project Fund and Project Activities.
The Working Group Meeting in 2023 (WG2023) on the EANET was held online on 22 and 23 August 2023. Over 50 representatives from the 13 EANET countries, the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET, participated in the meeting to discuss past activities, proposed projects for 2024, and important administrative matters.
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Activities in 2022 and 2023: Collaborative Efforts for Better Air Quality in East and Southeast Asia
The completion of EANET projects in 2022 and ongoing activities in 2023 were presented during the WG2023 meeting. The Secretariat underscored its commitment to Core Activities from 2022 to July 2023. These included organizing the EANET major annual meetings, leading partnership and communication activities, and awareness sessions, such as the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in Bangkok and National Awareness Workshops in Lao PDR and in the Philippines.
The Network Center highlighted activities spanning 2022 and 2023, including continued acid deposition and air quality monitoring, QA-QC and capacity building activities, and also Individual Training, the Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop, and the MICS-Asia Workshop. Notably, 2022 Projects were successfully completed, and eight Project Activities were launched in 2023. Among the 2023 projects was the VOC Advisory Group Meeting in Manila, a component of the broader Feasibility for Promoting VOCs’ Related Capacity Building in the EANET project.
Screenshot of some of the WG2023 participants
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EANET Medium Term Plan Mid-Term Review’s Inception
The Mid-Term Review of the EANET Medium Term Plan (MTP) for 2021-2025 was introduced during the WG2023. The Secretariat and Evaluator leading the Review presented the Inception Report for the Mid-Term Review of the MTP. Participating Countries engaged in discussions, sharing their perspectives and suggestions on the Plan’s review.
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Draft EANET Project Plans for 2024
EANET’s Project Plans for 2024, submitted to the EANET Project Fund, came into focus during WG2023. The Network Center and Secretariat jointly introduced 12 EANET Project Plans for the upcoming year, ranging from continuing initiatives to new proposals. These projects included diverse subjects such as atmospheric deposition effects on ecosystems, VOC-related capacity building, air quality monitoring network development, and more. Participating Countries discussed potential overlaps, funding optimization, and suggestions to strengthen project proposals. Encouragement for external partnerships was highlighted.
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Modifications to EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline and Administrative and Financial Management Guideline
WG2023 included discussions on modifications to the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, and on revising the Guidelines on Administrative and Financial Management for the Secretariat and Network Center. The Secretariat presented the current Guidelines against proposed changes submitted by Participating Countries at the Online Meeting on the Revision of the Guidelines. Participating Countries engaged in extensive discussions to refine definitions and procedures.
After the WG2023, the Secretariat and Network Center will prepare a new draft of both Guidelines, integrating proposed changes from discussions, for further review by Participating Countries’ National Focal Points, and including review from UNEP and ACAP, hosts of the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET.
The revised Guidelines, along with the EANET Project Proposal, and the Mid-Term Review of the EANET MTP, will be further discussed at the Twenty-Third Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC23) online Meeting to be held in October 2023, and during the 25th Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) on the EANET in November 2023, in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
The Twenty-fourth Senior Technical Managers’ Meeting (STM24) on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) took place in Niigata, Japan and online, on 29 and 30 August 2023. The Meeting gathered over 40 senior technical officials from the 13 EANET Participating Countries to discuss the status of the Network’s monitoring activities.
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EANET Monitoring Activities in 2022
Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, the Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), delivered the Opening Remarks, followed by Welcome Remarks by Mr. Bert Fabian, the Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET.
After presenting the progress of EANET activities in 2022 since STM23, the Network Center for the EANET (NC) shared the results of various reports on acid deposition and related substances monitoring activities. STM24 participants were invited to discuss and share knowledge and experience to collectively review these draft publications.
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Some Participants of the STM24 in Niigata, Japan
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Overview of the Preliminary Draft Data Report 2022 and Evaluation of the Results of the Inter-laboratory Comparison (ILC) Projects 2022
The NC presented the Preliminary Draft Data Report 2022. This report focuses on wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring. It includes a summary of the monitoring data in 2022 and related information submitted by the Participating Countries.
The NC also introduced the preliminary draft Report on the Inter-laboratory Comparison Projects in 2022 for wet deposition, dry deposition (filter pack method), soil, and inland aquatic environment.
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Consideration of the National Monitoring Plans (NMPs), Current Monitoring Activities for the EANET, and Overall Air Concentration Monitoring Status of the Participating Countries
In line with previous STM meetings’ process, representatives of the Participating Countries presented their National Monitoring Plans (NMPs) and current EANET activities, including monitoring capacities, technical challenges, and future plans, while focusing on the general improvement of the activities of the EANET.
Dr. Meng Fan, Deputy Director General, ACAP, delivered the Closing Remarks. He expressed his great appreciation for the improvement of the data quality due to the efforts of the Participating Countries and hoped that the EANET monitoring, research, and capacity-building activities would continue to be strengthened through the expansion of the scope of the EANET.
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The Report of the STM24 will soon be available on the Meeting Reports page. View the STM24 photos on Flickr.
When addressing atmospheric environmental issues in the EANET Participating Countries, the primary focus should be on sources of fuel combustion. This includes, but is not limited to, major power plants, industrial facilities, residential areas, and road transportation. Emissions from combustion sources often cause large adverse impacts on human health and ecosystems by acid deposition, high concentrations of PM2.5 and ozone, etc.
In order to tackle severe air pollution problems, it is essential to understand the status of emissions of air pollutants and consider the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Emission inventories are essential to obtain such information and help to develop appropriate atmospheric environmental policies. The methodologies to estimate emissions from combustion sources are basic and are essential for the development of national emission inventories.
The workshop EANET Emission Inventory Webinar on Combustion Sources will be held online on 11 December 2023, from 12:30-16:30 (Bangkok time, UTC+7). This workshop is organized by the Network Center for the EANET, hosted by the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).
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2. Objectives and Participants
The objectives of the Emission Inventory Webinar are to learn the basic methodologies to estimate emissions from combustion sources including stationary and mobile sources. In addition, the various roles of emission inventories in atmospheric environmental management, frameworks of national emission inventories, and related issues will be introduced.
This workshop targets particularly technical officers, practitioners, and policymakers who are involved in atmospheric environmental management issues, especially those in charge of or interested in developing a national emission inventory.
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3. Program
4. Registration
To participate in the EANET Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop on Combustion Sources, please fill in and send back the registration form by 30 November 2023.
Deteriorated atmospheric environment by pollutants emitted from anthropogenic activities may cause adverse effects on human health and ecosystems.
However, scientific knowledge needs to be further shared among various stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, and the public.
To share scientific knowledge and relevant policy measures, a regular set of workshops or seminars on the relationship between the atmospheric environment and human health and the relationship between the atmospheric environment and ecosystems is planned, and as such, the Seminar on the Effects of Acid Deposition and Air Pollution on Human Health and Ecosystems will be held online on 31 October 2023, from 13:00-15:30 (Bangkok time, UTC+7). This Seminar is organized by the Network Center for the EANET, hosted by the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).
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2. Objectives
To obtain scientific knowledge on the Acid Deposition/Air Pollution effects on human health and ecosystems
To learn science-based policy experiences on the reduction of atmospheric pollutants in other regions, such as Europe
To obtain a common understanding of future directions of environmental measures between policymakers and scientists on national and international levels.
The EANET has been implementing the EANET Project Fundmechanism since 2022. However, from the perspective of developing and evaluating projects, evaluating proposals and the progress of projects and achievements needs to be further improved. Therefore, this Workshop is being organized to share experiences on Results-Based Management (RBM), foster a common understanding of the theory and practices of RBM, and provide information to the Secretariat, the Network Center, and the Participating Countries to facilitate the efficient development and evaluation of EANET Projects.
The Workshop on Results-Based Management to Support the EANET Project Development and Evaluation will be held online on Friday 15 March 2024, from 9:00 to 11:00 (ICT). This activity is implemented by the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research(ACAP), hosting the Network Center for the EANET, and by Suuri-Keikaku Co., Ltd. It is funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, (MOEJ).
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2. Objectives
The workshop aims to establish a shared comprehension of Results Based Management (RBM) and its practical application within the context of the EANET Project Fund development and evaluation. Key objectives include understanding the concept of RBM, particularly within the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Evaluation Standards framework. Furthermore, the workshop intends to present case studies drawn from experiences within UNEP, ASEAN, and other institutions, showcasing effective RBM implementation. Participants will also gain insights into the specific methodologies and approaches through which RBM principles are integrated into EANET Projects, fostering a deeper understanding of its relevance and application in project management and evaluation processes.
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3. Expected Participants
The Workshop will be attended online by representatives from the EANET Participating Countries, the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET.
Human activities, particularly in agriculture and fossil fuel combustion, have led to the release of reactive nitrogen, including nitrogen oxides and ammonia, into the atmosphere and water bodies. This has prompted concerns about irreversible changes to natural resources. To address this, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) adopted a second resolution on “Sustainable nitrogen management” (resolution 5/2), urging countries to develop action plans to significantly reduce nitrogen emissions by 2030. Furthermore, building upon resolutions UNEP 4.14 and UNEA 5.2, UNEP has formed a working group dedicated to nitrogen management, referred to as the “Nitrogen Working Group.” This initiative includes expert meetings and discussions focused on developing frameworks to enhance international policy coordination related to nitrogen management.
Nitrogen oxides are formed when atmospheric nitrogen reacts with oxygen at high temperatures leading to the creation of photochemical oxidants and PM2.5. Ammonia, mainly emitted from agricultural activities, also contributes to the increase in particulate matter. As part of its activities, the EANET is monitoring the atmospheric deposition of these reactive nitrogen species due to their significance in acid deposition and air pollution.
The Sustainable Nitrogen Management Seminar will be held online on Friday 16 February 2024, from 13:00 to 15:30 (UTC+7). This activity is implemented by the EANET and funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, (MOEJ) through the EANET Project Fund.
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2. Objectives
This seminar aims to disseminate knowledge on sustainable nitrogen management led by UNEP to EANET Participating Countries and others; provide information on how to address this global issue at the policy level and take necessary monitoring activities that may help the development of national action plans by each country; and enhance the participation of EANET participating countries to the global discussions on sustainable nitrogen management.
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3. Expected Participants
The Seminar will be attended online by the EANET National Focal Points, Scientific Advisory Committee members, and other EANET members and partners, including policymakers, scientists, and researchers. It will also welcome representatives of any organizations working on related issues.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are components of air pollution that include a complex mixture of hundreds of carbon-containing gases. VOCs also include a wide variety of chemicals, some of which can cause short- and long-term adverse health effects. However, due to the unique characteristics of VOCs and the relatively high cost of measurement, VOCs monitoring and its related activities in the EANET region are still at an early stage. Since February 2023, the EANET has launched the “Feasibility for Promoting VOCs related Capacity Building in the EANET” project as part of the first batch of EANET Projects funded by the EANET Project Fund.
The Workshop “Knowledge Sharing for VOCs Related Activities in EANET” will be held at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters, Manila, Philippines, and online on Tuesday 14 November 2023, from 9:30 to 11:45 (UTC+8 Manila time), a pre-event to the Better Air Quality Conference (BAQ) 2023. This activity is implemented by the EANET and funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, (MOEJ) and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Philippines, through the EANET Project Fund.
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2. Objectives
The workshop aims to foster a comprehensive understanding and collaboration in the field of VOCs by bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners in a multidisciplinary platform.
Through focused sessions starting from monitoring, to modeling, and finally reaching policymaking, the workshop will aim to enhance knowledge exchange and advancements in VOCs-related activities.
By addressing challenges, sharing insights, and showcasing innovative strategies, the workshop seeks to drive sustainable solutions for VOCs management, minimizing environmental impacts, and promoting effective regulatory measures.
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3. Expected Participants
The workshop will be attended online and/or in person by the EANET National Focal Points, Scientific Advisory Committee members, and other EANET members and partners, including policymakers, national researchers, and scientists. It will also welcome representatives of partner organizations working on related issues, as well as participants joining the BAQ conference in Manila.
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4. Program
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5. Speakers (in order of appearance – to be updated)
Mr. Bert Fabian
Mr. Bert Fabian is the Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET. He 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.
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Mr. Yu KAMEI
Mr. Yu KAMEI graduated from Kyoto University with a Bachelor of Engineering. He joined the Ministry of the Environment, Japan in 2007. Since then, he worked on climate change measures, waste management, fishery resources conservation, environment impact assessment, radioactive materials countermeasures, and water pollution control, etc. in the Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan. In 2020, he was seconded to Nasushiobara City as Deputy Mayor till 2023. Since July 2023, he has been the Director of the International Cooperation Office, Environment Management Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
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Dr. Yujiro Ichikawa
Dr. Yujiro Ichikawa is a researcher of the atmospheric environment group at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS) Japan. He has specialized in analytical chemistry from his student days to the present. In addition to the field of atmospheric environment, he has been involved in research in other fields such as pesticides, mycotoxins, and environmental radioactivity, and has cultivated various experiences and knowledge and obtained many research results. In recognition of his research achievements to date, he has received encouragement and paper awards from several academic societies. Currently, he is actively engaged in research related to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are responsible for photochemical pollution and secondary organic aerosols, as well as research related to global warming substances (Fluorocarbons, etc.).
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Dr. Toshimasa Ohara
Dr. Toshimasa Ohara is a research director at the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS). After receiving a Ph.D. in 1982 in engineering from Hokkaido University, he has worked at the Institute of Behavioral Science, Shizuoka University, and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES). His research fields are emission inventory development and chemical transport modeling of air pollutants at the urban and regional scales in Japan and East Asia. His group has developed a regional emission inventory in Asia, REAS, which is used in the world as a comprehensive emission dataset for air pollutants in Asia. He has served as former president of the Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment. Currently, he is a chairperson of the Air, Noise and Vibration Committee of the Central Environment Council of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and contributes to the linkage of science and policy in the field of atmospheric environment in Japan. He is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of EANET since 2012. His recent research subject is to analyze the long-term trends of ambient VOCs concentrations for validating the effectiveness of VOCs emission control in Japan.
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Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk
Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk is the Director of the Transboundary Air Pollution Sub-Division in the Air Quality and Noise Management Division of the Pollution Control Department(PCD) Thailand. She has been involved in Thailand’s Volatile Organic Compounds Management since 2007 and has been responsible for supervising the PCD’s VOCs monitoring network group and giving technical consultation for VOCs-related issues to PCD staff and others. Among other important projects, Dr. Unapumnak was previously the coordinator for the Thai-Japan Clean Air Partnership on Particulate Matter Reduction Strategy and Measures Development Project, a technical cooperation project between the Ministry of Environment, Japan, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand.
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Mr. Tian Junjie
Mr. Tian Junjie is an engineer at the Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from the East China University of Science and Technology. His focus is on the development and compilation of high-resolution emission inventories for various atmospheric pollution sources, high-resolution emission inventory of reactive volatile organic compounds from anthropogenic sources in the Yangtze River Delta region, as well as a national scale emission inventory of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. In the context of integrated ecological and sustainable initiatives in the Yangtze River Delta, he also engages in extensive research focused on investigating the causes and origins of air pollution as well as the emission reduction potential of air pollutants and carbon.
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Dr. Feng Miao
Dr. Feng Miao is a Senior Engineer from the Chengdu Academy of Environmental Sciences. She is responsible for the operation and management of the Chengdu Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Research. She has long been dedicated to studying atmospheric monitoring and air pollution formation mechanisms. She also focuses on developing strategies to prevent and control air pollution, specifically in catering fume pollution, where she is contributing to the development of local emission standards for cooking fumes in Chengdu. Dr. Feng Miao has published over 30 academic papers, applied for 1 invention patent, and holds 3 software copyrights in the academic field. Dr. Feng Miao has actively participated in several national and provincial science and technology projects.
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Prof. Meng Fan
Prof. Meng Fan is the Deputy Director General in charge of the Network Center for EANET, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). Prior to this position, he was Deputy Chief Engineer, Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Environment, and Director of the Research Department for the 2+26 Cities in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei of the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES). He has been conducting research in the fields of air quality modeling, atmospheric chemistry, air pollution control policy, and synergistic control of air pollution and climate change. Dr. Meng Fan has been published as the author and co-author of over 80 papers in highly regarded, peer-reviewed journals and is also an adjunct professor and doctoral supervisor at Beijing Normal University and Tongji University of China.
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Mr. 
Dr. Toshimasa Ohara
Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk
Mr. Tian Junjie
Dr. Feng Miao