19 August 2026 – Virtual Meeting

The Working Group Meeting in 2026 (WG2026) on the EANET was held virtually on 4–5 August 2026, bringing together over 60 representatives from the 13 EANET Participating Countries, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat for the EANET and the Network Center for the EANET at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).

The meeting was the first major EANET meeting following the adoption of the Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2026–2030 by the Twenty-seventh Intergovernmental Meeting (IG27) on the EANET in November 2025. Discussions focused on translating the MTP’s objectives into practical actions, reviewing progress in EANET’s Core and Project Activities, and considering proposed Project Plans for 2027.

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Opening Remarks

Ms. Marlene Nilsson, Deputy Regional Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the importance of turning the MTP’s objectives into practical action. She emphasized the continuing challenges posed by air pollution and the vital role of regional cooperation, science-based decision-making and capacity building.

Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Director General of ACAP, highlighted EANET’s focus under the new MTP on ozone, PM2.5 and nitrogen, as well as improving understanding of the impacts of changing meteorological conditions. He encouraged participants to contribute to evidence-based and data-driven policymaking.

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Advancing EANET Activities

Participants reviewed progress in EANET’s Core Activities, including national monitoring plans, quality assurance and quality control, technical training, data management, technology exchange, and preparation of the Fifth Periodic Report on the State of Atmospheric Environment in East Asia (PRSAE5). The Secretariat also highlighted communication and awareness activities and preparations for the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop at the 2026 International Blue Sky Conference in Seoul and the National Awareness Workshop Understanding Air Pollution and its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Indonesia, both to be held in September 2026.

The Network Center presented progress on the 11 EANET Project Plans funded by the EANET Project Fund and approved for 2026, covering mainly areas such as nitrogen deposition, capacity building and technical training, climate and air quality, satellite observations, PM2.5 source identification, financing strategies, integrated PM2.5 monitoring, international training, sustainable agriculture and air quality legislation. Participants welcomed the progress and emphasized the importance of continued capacity building and knowledge sharing.

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Proposed Project Activities for 2027

The Network Center presented five proposed Project Plans for 2027, focusing on ammonia monitoring for sustainable nitrogen management, satellite observations, the EANET Fellowship, technical training and capacity building, and integrated capacity building for urban ozone and VOCs. The continued implementation of the PM2.5 source identification project was also proposed. Participating Countries emphasized that projects should remain within the scope of EANET, in line with the Annex to the Instrument.

Celebrating 25 Years of EANET

Following WG2026, EANET will continue its work through the Twenty-seventh Senior Technical Managers Meeting (STM27) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 2–3 September; the Twenty-sixth Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting (SAC26) on the EANET in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 20–22 October; and the Twenty-eighth Intergovermental Meeting (IG28) on the EANET in Niigata, Japan, on 24–26 November 2026. These meetings will further advance implementation of the MTP 2026–2030 and consideration of the proposed Project Plans for 2027.

WG2026 also looked ahead to a major milestone: EANET’s 25th anniversary. The Network Center provided an update on preparations for the anniversary celebrations, which will take place alongside IG28 in Niigata, Japan, in November 2026.

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Read the Meeting Report.

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Photo credits: cover photo of Active volcano rising above a vast sea of clouds by Rowan Heuvel (2026); all other images: All rights reserved to EANET.