Tag: awareness

National Stakeholders’ Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET in 2023

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

3 May 2023 – Vientiane, Lao PDR

The National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET: Promoting acid deposition and air quality management in East Asia was held in Vientiane, on 2 May 2023, in cooperation with the Natural Resource and Environment Research Institute (NRERI), Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MoNRE), Lao PDR. It aimed at showcasing the achievements and activities of the EANET over the last 20 years and encouraging cooperation between EANET and Lao stakeholders in the implementation of the EANET’s expanded scope and Project Fund activities. The Workshop was held at the NRERI, and gathered about 45 participants from government agencies, academic institutions, and NGOs. It was co-chaired by Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong, Director General of the NRERI, MoNRE, and Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET.

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Strengthening Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in Lao PDR

The National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET was inaugurated by the Opening Remarks of Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong and the introduction to the Workshop’s objectives by Mr. Bert Fabian. These were followed by presentations by Dr. Keiichi Sato, Head of Atmospheric Research Department, Asian Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Network Center of the EANET; Mr. Vanhna Phanphongsa, Deputy Director, Environmental Laboratory, MoNRE, Lao PDR; and Ms. Bounmany Soulideth, Deputy Head of Division, MoNRE, Lao PDR and current Head of the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Transboundary Haze Pollution.

Dr. Keiichi Sato presented the overall progress of air quality monitoring activities in the EANET region over the past two decades, specifically focusing on the dissemination of monitoring data, capacity building, and regional cooperation, within the framework of the EANET. Mr. Vanha and Ms. Bounmany presented the status of acid deposition monitoring and air quality management in Lao PDR as well as the transboundary haze pollution and general air quality issues in Lao PDR.

In his presentation, Mr. Vanha highlighted interest in Laos for future collaboration on capacity building activities, specifically related to supporting maintenance, Ion Chromatography (IC) instrument & air quality monitoring stations QA/QC, training on PM2.5/ PM10 monitoring, ambient air quality monitoring, atmospheric data analysis, ambient air data mapping, emission inventory tools, and air quality modeling.

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National Stakeholders’ Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET in-person participants

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Air Quality Management Collaborative Efforts and Awareness Initiatives in Lao PDR

The objective of the panel discussion on Strengthening Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in Lao PDR was to offer a forum to share information on air quality management and haze pollution. Representatives from government agencies  NGOs, and other development institutions participated actively in the panel discussion and shared their thoughts on the air pollution issues in the country.

The alarming increase in the heat index in Lao PDR and in the region in April 2023, combined with wildfires and high air pollution, has led to a collective agreement to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of air pollution. The government of Laos is taking various measures to address air pollution and raise public awareness about its impacts, including conducting public awareness activities led by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment and collaborating with relevant sectors to prevent air pollution from the agricultural sector. The National University of Laos (NUOL) has also introduced a supplementary curriculum on air pollution and air quality control.

The collaboration between the government and local communities was emphasized, involving engagement with local authorities and residents in educational programs. In the agricultural sector, the cassava farming practice is becoming a significant concern, leading to nutrient degradation in the soil and farmers resorting to clearing more land. Facing this issue, support is being provided to community-managed areas for sustainable crop preparation, discouraging the shifting of cultivation sites and promoting the use of plant residues to reduce burning.

Local government entities are also encouraged to collaborate with research institutes and other sectors to manage and prevent air pollution. The World Bank, in partnership with the NRERI, is developing an environmental and waste management project, aiming to enhance communication and access to educational resources through the development of online platforms including a mobile application, for public air quality monitoring.

The National Awareness Workshop participants highlighted the status of air quality monitoring stations, identified major sources of air pollution, and emphasized the importance of capacity building and international cooperation in addressing the transboundary haze issue. While efforts are made to improve the air quality assessment, these need to be further strengthened. Collaboration among various local and international stakeholders is key to addressing the air quality issue in Lao PDR.

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Interested in participating in an EANET Project? Find out more on the EANET Project Fund.

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Useful resources:

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Photo credits: featured image: the scenery of southern Laos by Joule Benjarat, 2020, free of rights; all other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in China: Promoting Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in East Asia – Join us on 18 October!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine
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Registration is now closed.

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Background and Objectives

The Acid Deposition Monitoring New Workshop in East Asia (EANET) was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative to create a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, provide useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promote cooperation among countries. The People’s Republic of China is one of the 13 EANET Participating Countries (PCs). In 2021, the PCs decided to expand the scope of EANET to explicitly cover air pollution and adopted a Supplementary Document (Annex) to the Instrument. EANET, as an intergovernmental initiative, is bound by an Instrument that PCs have committed to.

EANET’s activities are guided by five-year Medium Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the PCs every year. In 2023, the Secretariat is organizing National Stakeholder Awareness Workshops to support the implementation of activities of the EANET and to better understand specific country needs. The EANET National Awareness Workshop in China will be held on 18 October 2023, from 9:30-11:30 (Shanghai time) at the Fudan University in Shanghai and online, as a side event of the First International Conference on Chemical Weather and Chemical Climate (CWCC2023). The EANET Workshop is co-organized by the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET, the Fudan University, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, P.R. China.

This workshop aims to showcase the achievements and activities of the EANET over the last 20 years including activities involving P.R. China and to encourage more cooperation with EANET and P.R. China in the implementation of the expanded scope and the EANET Project Fund activities. Participants of the workshop will be government officials, academicians, non-government organizations, and the private sector.

Read the Workshop’s Concept Note here.

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Draft Agenda

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Read the full CWCC2023 Program on the Conference’s website.

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For further inquiries, contact the EANET Secretariat.

 

National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in the Philippines on EANET: Promoting acid deposition and air quality management in East Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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Registration is now closed.

Background and Objectives

The Acid Deposition Monitoring New Workshop in East Asia (EANET) was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative to create a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, provide useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promote cooperation among countries. The Philippines is one of the 13 EANET Participating Countries (PCs). In 2021, the PCs decided to expand the scope of EANET to explicitly cover air pollution and adopted a Supplementary Document (Annex) to the Instrument. EANET, as an intergovernmental initiative, is bound by an Instrument that PCs have committed to.

EANET’s activities are guided by five-year Medium Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the PCs every year. In 2023, the Secretariat is organizing National Stakeholder Awareness Workshops to support the implementation of activities of the EANET and to better understand specific country needs. The EANET National Awareness Workshop for the Philippines is on 26 May 2023 to be held at the University of the Philippines. It is co-organized by the EANET Secretariat and the Network Center, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, College of Science, University of the Philippines in Diliman.

The Workshop aims at showcasing the achievements and activities of the EANET over the last 20 years including activities involving the Philippines and to encourage cooperation between EANET and the Philippines in the implementation of the expanded scope and the EANET Project Fund activities. About 50 participants from government, academic and research institutions, and, non-government organizations are expected to attend the workshop.

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Draft Agenda (updated on 19 May)

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For further inquiries, contact the EANET Secretariat.

 

The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia – from data to policy

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

29 June 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 “The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia – from data to policy” was organized virtually on Monday, 20 June 2022. It gathered participants from 17 different countries, scientists, and policymakers who discussed the biggest challenges and successes in acid deposition management in East Asia in the last 20 years.

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Opening Session

Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Regional Director of UNEP Asia Pacific office, opened the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 by delivering the opening remarks, followed by welcome remarks from Mr. Kenichiro Fukunaga, Deputy Director General in charge of Administrative Management at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP).

Key messages conveyed in the remarks celebrated the imminent release of the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4) and the opportunities ahead for the EANET, in line with the expansion of its scope to air pollution, including the launch of the EANET Project Fund.

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General Lecture – Key Findings from the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4)

Since 2006, the EANET has been developing Periodic Reports on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSADs), published every five years, and aiming at providing high-quality data to be used for research, formulation of policies, and measures to reduce the impacts of acid deposition and related air pollutants on the environment. In 2022, the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4), will be released.

Prof. Meng Fan, Former Chairperson of the PRSAD4 Drafting Committee and Deputy Director General in charge of the Network Center for EANET, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), presented the General Lecture: Key Findings from the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4). Findings and recommendations from the PRSAD4 highlighted the improvement of sulfur dioxide-related air pollution mostly in North-East Asia, while nitrogen deposition, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and ozone-related pollution were detected at a high level in the EANET region. The importance to continue deploying more monitoring sites was expressed.

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Panel Discussion – From data to policy, good practices for evidence-based and data-driven policies in East Asia

The Panel Discussion gathered renowned scientists and key policymakers from the EANET Participating Countries. Discussions focused on the importance of regional cooperation and multilateralism to address global environmental problems including acid deposition and air pollution. Findings from the PRSAD4 were also discussed, in the specific context of Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Most panelists highlighted the incredible capacity-building efforts led by the EANET in the past twenty years, on emission inventories, acid deposition regulations, and monitoring support which have indirectly contributed to the development of regional policies. Finally, the panel also shared thoughts on the role EANET may play by helping fill the gap of the right to information on air pollution, as the right to a clean environment and clean air was recently included as a human right by the United Nations.

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Useful Resources

Read a more detailed summary of the Workshop’s content in the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 Event Report.

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View all Workshop’s recordings on the Secretariat for the EANET’s YouTube channel and the Workshop’s photos on Flickr.

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

27 July 2022 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners online on 6 July 2022. It gathered scientists and researchers, government officers, technicians including Quality Assurance/Quality Control managers, and representatives of international organizations who discussed how to improve the EANET monitoring system. 180 participants from 17 different countries and regions joined the Workshop.

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Opening Session

Moderated by Ms. Yao Dong, Assistant Deputy Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the Network Center (NC) for the EANET, the Workshop started with Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of ACAP in charge of the NC for the EANET and followed by Mr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki, Director of the International Cooperation Office, Environmental Management Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama and Mr. Toshiyuki Yamasaki delivered the opening remarks.

Remarks emphasized the introduction of new monitoring substances such as (but not only) ammonia, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds, following the expansion of the scope of the EANET as decided by the IG23, and the need to adapt EANET’s monitoring system accordingly. The new EANET Project Fund mechanism, allowing the EANET and other organizations to collaborate on acid deposition and air-quality related projects, was also introduced.

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Lectures and panel discussion

Among its key activities, the EANET is currently monitoring atmospheric substances at 64 monitoring sites in the EANET Participating Countries. The monitoring focuses on five items – wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring.

The Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners was funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and implemented by the Network Center for the EANET. Its goal was to share a wide range of national and international experiences in the field of atmospheric monitoring while discussing the current development and future challenge of monitoring systems and related methodologies in the EANET region.

Panelists during the discussion sessions.

The first session introduced the EANET monitoring activities and was followed by case studies from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China. In addition, specific monitoring methodologies including QA/QC activities were also introduced.

Dr. Meng Fan delivered the closing remarks.

In the second session, a panel discussion, followed by an open discussion, took place to exchange ideas on specific country challenges and discuss how to link EANET’s work with urban monitoring. Members of the EANET Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and from other organizations, such as Clean Air Asia, joined the discussion.

Closing remarks were provided by Dr. Fan Meng, Deputy Director General of ACAP in charge of the NC for the EANET, who summarized the highlights of the Workshop and thanked all speakers and participants for their active contribution. Among the key outcomes of the Workshop, Dr. Meng emphasized the question of linking EANET’s work with city-level monitoring and the challenge to measure volatile organic compounds and secondary pollutants.

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Useful Resources
  • View the full recording of the Workshop on the EANET Secretariat’s Youtube channel
  • Download the Workshop’s Program
  • View the Workshop’s photos on Flickr
  • Download the Workshop’s presentations:

–Development and role of monitoring system in EANET and the case study of Japan

–Latest National and Local/City Monitoring System in the Republic of Korea

–Study on the Co-control of PM2.5 and Ozone Pollution in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Surrounding Region of China

–Monitoring methodologies and QA/QC activities in the EANET

-Introduction to EANET Project Fund and Project Activities 2022-2023

  • Find out more on the topic of the nitrogen cycle, touched upon during the panel discussion, by reading Prof. Akimoto’s et al. related research papers:

–Review of Comprehensive Measurements of Speciated NOy and its Chemistry: Need for Quantifying the Role of Heterogeneous Processes of HNO3 and HONO (2020)

–Rethinking of the adverse effects of NOx-control on the reduction of methane and tropospheric ozone – Challenges toward a denitrified society (2022)

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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.

EANET Workshop on the Relationship between the Atmospheric Environment, Human Health and Ecosystems – Join us on October 31st!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

 

The registration is now closed.

1. Background

As mentioned in the Medium Term Plan for the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) (2021-2025), the Participating Countries established the EANET in 2000 to recognize increasing concerns about acid deposition due to rapid economic development in East Asia that had jeopardized environmental sustainability. The establishment of EANET has benefited from the viewpoint of environmental sustainability and the experience of Europe and other regions that have earlier carried out relevant activities for monitoring acid deposition and related substances, including quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), data accumulation, and evaluation. Over the span of 20 years, the accumulation of scientific knowledge and regional economic development, the environmental pollution situation worldwide, and the urgent and important fields of action have changed significantly, and, in November 2021, the Twenty-third Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (IG23) for the EANET made important decisions on the expansion of the scope of the EANET, from acid deposition, to also include a wider scope of atmospheric environment-related substances.

As the deterioration of the atmospheric environment by pollutants emitted from anthropogenic activities may cause adverse effects on humans and ecosystems, the Workshop on the Relationship between the Atmospheric Environment and Human Health and Ecosystems will allow discussions and experience-sharing with various stakeholders, such as policymakers, scientists, and the general public.

To further discuss and understand scientific knowledge and relevant policy measures, the Workshop on the Relationship between the Atmospheric Environment and Human Health and Ecosystems will gather renowned East Asian and European researchers and experts from academia (Hokkaido University, Japan, and Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, China), international organizations (CLRTAP-UNECE, WHO, IIASA), and from the Network Center for the EANET, to share scientific findings on the effects of atmospheric deposition on human health and ecosystems, as well as best science-based practices for policy-makers to reduce the impacts of atmospheric pollutants.

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2. Objectives and Participants

The Workshop on the Relationship between the Atmospheric Environment and Human Health and Ecosystems will aim at:

  • sharing scientific knowledge on the relationships between the atmospheric environment and human health and between the atmospheric environment and ecosystems
  • showcasing science-based policy experiences on the reduction of atmospheric pollutants in other regions, such as Europe
  • contributing to sharing a common understanding of future directions for environmental measures to be developed by policymakers and scientists at the national and international levels

Although this event is open to the public, the expected participants will be mainly government officials from the EANET Participating Countries, scientists, such as the Scientific Advisory Committee members, Task Force members, other relevant scientists from the EANET and beyond, etc.

 

3. Agenda and Program

Useful Resources

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

Workshop on National Air Quality Monitoring Systems and Methodologies with Related Partners – Join us on July 6th!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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The registration is now closed.

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1. Background

The EANET as an intergovernmental network in East Asia has achieved excellent progress in monitoring cooperation and had great progress in dealing with common concerned problems in the region. The EANET has been monitoring more than 18 atmospheric substances including ions at 64 monitoring sites in the EANET Participating Countries. EANET implements five monitoring items – wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring.

Depending on differentiated economic stages, industrial structures and meteorological conditions, Participating Countries face diversified environmental challenges and priorities, and even in the same region, the challenges differ from time to time. Therefore, in dealing with acid deposition and air pollution issues, it becomes critical to understand the latest atmospheric environment status in the EANET region firstly, and constantly keep up with the latest trend of air pollution measurements and state-of-the-art research methodology/technology, and fully utilize all aspects of resources to seek the solutions in improving air quality in EANET.

Through more than 20 years of activities, the EANET has established a comprehensive and integrated monitoring network, and EANET monitoring data has been used to evaluate and analyze the atmospheric environment in East Asia. The EANET has focused on the national level to promote cooperation among thirteen Participating Countries to address air pollution, including acid deposition issues, and has achieved significant progress in improving air quality in the East Asia region. However, considering the lifetime of air pollution substances, city-level air quality management is also important besides the national level. Furthermore, in terms of implementing management regulations and standards, along with initiatives from central governments, the local/city governments are also crucial in steadily carrying out various measurements.

To accelerate its further development, the Twenty-third Intergovernmental Meeting of the EANET reached an agreement to expand its scope and enable the EANET to conduct monitoring of more atmospheric environment-related substances. In response to this historical decision of scope expansion and steadily undertaking the necessary actions to adopt the changes of EANET, sharing the latest monitoring system and methodologies, discussing the most pressing challenges, and thinking together about possible solutions among the EANET Participating Countries with related partners are critical.

This workshop will gather different stakeholders (scientists and researchers, government officers, technicians including QA/QC managers, the representative of an international organization) together and invite them to discuss from different perspectives on how to overcome the challenges so as to improve the monitoring system in EANET.

This workshop will be divided into two sessions. The first session will briefly introduce the EANET monitoring activities and its function, followed by the case studies of Japan, R. of Korea, and China. In addition, the specific monitoring methodologies including QA/QC activities will be also introduced. In the second session, the panel discussion will take place involving different stakeholders to seek solutions for improving the EANET monitoring system.

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2. Objectives and Participants

This workshop aims to provide an opportunity of sharing a wide range of national and international experiences in the field of atmospheric monitoring, discussing the current development and future challenge of monitoring systems and related methodologies in EANET.

Although this event is open to the public, the expected participants will be mainly Representative of Participating Countries of the EANET including:

  • Central and local government officials from monitoring and air quality management related departments or divisions
  • Scientists, researchers, and technicians (including QA/QC managers and technicians) in the related area
  • Participants from related stakeholders, including representatives from UNEP and other regional and international organizations
  • The Network Center for the EANET, the Secretariat for the EANET

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3. Agenda

There will be two sessions based on the objectives of the workshop.

The first session aims to:

  • Provide an overview of the development of science and policy related to acid deposition in East Asia over 30 years.
  • Introduce the monitoring systems of Japan, R. of Korea, and China.
  • Discuss national monitoring system with QA/QC capacity for a wide range of monitoring stations, including mobile monitoring units, and introduce past experiences in order to expand possible opportunities in Participating Countries.

The second session aims to:

  • Provide discussion platform to various stakeholders to discuss the challenges the Participating Countries are facing, and seek possible or efficient solutions in improving monitoring system.
  • Provide useful and practical advice from scientific views in strengthening monitoring system from the SAC members of EANET.
  • Provide lesson learned and important insights for air quality monitoring management experiences towards resolving the related difficulties in the Participating Countries of the EANET.
  • Share Clean Air Asia (CAA)’s knowledge gained through the cooperation between cities that has been implemented over the years in strengthening and improving City’s air quality monitoring system.
  • Discuss opportunities of respective concerns or difficulties in further developing air quality monitoring systems in Participating Countries of the EANET involving different stakeholders.

In the second session following two guiding discussion points (tentative) will be provided.

  1. Air pollution issue are deferred from country to country, and deferred from time to time. Taking the latest trend of your country into account, what do you think are the most significant challenge such as targeted substances and spatial coverage for the EANET in improving atmospheric environment in 5-10 years ahead?
  2. International cooperation is critical from national to city-level in dealing with the regional air pollution issue. But, what is the pros and cons of the linkage between national-level and city-level cooperation, and what are the key points to optimize the co-benefit for the regional/city-level air quality in terms of monitoring system, its solutions and prioritized actions?

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Access the full Programme here.

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Download the Workshop’s presentations:

–Development and role of monitoring system in EANET and the case study of Japan

–Latest National and Local/City Monitoring System in the Republic of Korea

–Study on the Co-control of PM2.5 and Ozone Pollution in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, and Surrounding Region of China

–Monitoring methodologies and QA/QC activities in the EANET

-Introduction to EANET Project Fund and Project Activities 2022-2023

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

Next-Generation Air Quality Monitoring: Technologies, Communities, and Governance for Clean Air – Join us on November 26th!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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Background

The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) was established in 2001 as a regional intergovernmental network to promote cooperation among countries in East Asia to address acid deposition problems. In 2021, at the Twenty-Second Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG22), the 13 Participating Countries of the EANET agreed to expand its scope to address wider air pollution problems and launched the EANET Project Fund to encourage cooperation with partners outside of its network.

In the last 20 years, the EANET has made excellent progress in acid deposition monitoring cooperation, including on particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. The Network has fostered a regional monitoring network and scientific exchange platforms which have contributed to solving acid deposition and air pollution problems in East Asia.

In November 2024, the Twenty-sixth Intergovernmental Meeting (IG26) on the EANET approved the Work Programme and Budget of the EANET Core Activities in 2025, including Activity 10: Promotion of public awareness on acid deposition, including other priority chemical species, etc.

In this respect, and in line with the efforts to facilitate the sharing of a common understanding on air quality issues, the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in 2025: “Next-Generation Air Quality Monitoring: Technologies, Communities, and Governance for Clean Air”  will be organized on Wednesday 26 November in Bangkok , Thailand, and in a hybrid format as part of UNEP’s Clean Air Week 2025, from 24-28 November 2028, at the Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

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Short Description

Air pollution remains the single largest environmental health risk worldwide, with Asia experiencing the most severe impacts. Effective air quality management requires robust, reliable, and inclusive monitoring systems that integrate scientific innovation, community participation, and policy action. While governments and research institutions have traditionally relied on reference-grade monitoring, new technologies—including low-cost sensors, satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence (AI), and open-source toolkits—are reshaping the landscape of air quality management.

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Objective and Participants

This session explores how innovative approaches are enabling more accessible, hyperlocal, and transparent data generation and governance. It brings together leading experts, civil society, academia to share lessons from on-the-ground experiences, advanced modelling approaches, community-led initiatives, and legal innovations such as the Pollution Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) bill in Thailand.

The discussion will focus on:

  • Pathways to integrate innovative monitoring into governance frameworks for cleaner air
  • How new technologies and open-source tools can strengthen monitoring and data transparency.
  • The role of numerical models, AI, and satellite data in supporting decision-making at the local, national and regional scale.
  • How community engagement and right-to-know legislation can empower citizens.

Expected in-person and online participants will include 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 Clean Air Week.

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Tentative Agenda

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Contact

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Unlocking and Future-Proofing Air Quality Management in Asia – Join us on May 27-29th!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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Background

Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental health crises globally. It is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths annually, the bulk of which – 70 percent – occur in the Asia Pacific. In addition to health hazards, air pollution threatens the region’s economy, food and water security, and climate systems. This hampers the region’s efforts to grow sustainably and alleviate poverty. Urbanization has been identified as one of the main drivers of environmental change with many cities having seen high — and in some areas, rising — levels of air pollution over the past decade. Everyone is affected, but women, children, the elderly, and people living in poverty are bearing the brunt of its impact. It is infringing on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Many efforts and initiatives have been implemented over the past decades to tackle air pollution but have not been able to fully address the problem and need to be responsive to emerging global and regional challenges. At the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in February 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, member states underscored the need to elevate efforts on addressing the significant impacts of air pollution, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, and adopted a new resolution on Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally.

Within the context of this workshop, “future-proofing” refers to anticipating future challenges that will impact air quality management and identifying solutions, for example, weather and meteorological conditions driving the frequency of forest and wildfires, or increasing dust and sandstorms, driving haze and severe air pollution episodes. “Unlocking” refers to examining and identifying key policies and solutions leading to measurable improvement in air quality.

These can help inform implementation of the new resolution which requests UNEP to “form and facilitate a cooperation network on air quality” working with relevant stakeholders and regional initiatives such as the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), the Malé Declaration, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the Asia-Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP), North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP) and the Thematic Working Group on Air Quality and Health.

The resolution also requests UNEP to provide an “updated global online platform for network-wide information sharing and communication”. At the regional level, after the adoption of the Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP) in 2022, ESCAP is initiating the development of an online RAPAP Partnership and Coordination Platform. The Platform aims to facilitate complementarities among multilateral and multi-stakeholder cooperation mechanisms as well as countries to provide a repository of collaborative work and scale up the impact of joint actions.

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Objective

This workshop is jointly organized by UNEP, ESCAP, and EANET to support the regional implementation of the UNEA resolution on promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally and support discussions to “unlock” and “future-proof” air quality management in the region.

This workshop serves as EANET’s Regional Awareness Workshop in 2024 to inform its Participating Countries on the key challenges and emerging issues on air quality management and provide inputs to its Medium-Term Plan for 2026-2030. This workshop also serves as an important opportunity for ESCAP to inform stakeholders about the development of the RAPAP Partnership and Coordination Platform, map out activities of potential partners, and obtain feedback and suggestions on the Platform as a shared resource for information exchange and coordination, thus facilitating multilateral and international cooperation in support of RAPAP.

In this respect, the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2024 will be organized from 27-28 May in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok (UNCC), Thailand, and in a hybrid format, under the name “Unlocking and Future-Proofing Air Quality Management in Asia, Multi-stakeholder consultation workshop for improved multilateral and international cooperation on air pollution”. On 27 May, the 2024 edition of LowCarbon.Earth will be launched, inviting applications by startups working on six areas: Clean air; Agri-food; Renewable energy; Digital innovation; Sustainable mobility; and Plastic pollution. Finally, on 29 May in Meeting Room B, at the UNCC closed EANET meetings by invitation only (see the Program below) will take place back-to-back with the Workshop.

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Program (as of 23 May)

 

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For further inquiries, contact the EANET Secretariat, UNEP, or the Environment and Development Division, ESCAP.