Tag: awareness

EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in 2023: A focus on Volatile Organic Compounds and Low-Cost Sensors – Join us on May 30th!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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Registration is now closed, contact the EANET Secretariat for more info

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Background

Due to rapid economic growth and industrialization, many countries in East Asia are still facing serious threats from air pollution and acid deposition, in a more global context where almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s air quality limits, hindering populations’ right to a healthy environment.

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 that contribute to solving acid deposition and air pollution problems in East Asia.

In November 2022, the Twenty-fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG24) approved the first batch of “EANET Project Plans” funded through the EANET Project Fund, with an Estimated Income for Project Activities in 2023 of US$489,700, including funding from EANET, additional financial support from Japan (MOEJ) from the Republic of Korea (NIER); and in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB); and in-kind support from Japan (JARI, NIES), Mongolia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam (IMHEN, MONRE) for the implementation of 8 projects, among which two projects focusing on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Low-Cost Sensors (LCS).

In this respect, and in line with the efforts to facilitate the sharing of a common understanding of air quality and acid deposition issues, the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2023 will be organized on Tuesday, 30 May 14:00-17:00 (ICT) at the United Nations Convention Center in Bangkok (UNCC Theatre), Thailand, and in a hybrid format, under the name “ EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in 2023: a focus on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Low Cost Sensors (LCS)”, as part of the Climate and Clean Air Conference: Air Quality Action Week, organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). The Workshop is held in cooperation with the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP).

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Objective and Participants

Objective: the EANET Awareness Workshop is expected to increase public understanding of air pollution and acid deposition issues through the lens of experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders from the EANET region and globally. The two sessions will focus on innovative and emerging topics, specifically on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Low-Cost Sensors (LCS) related opportunities, limitations, and good practices, and possibly generate future collaboration ideas.

Participants: the sessions 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 mainly from the Network’s 13 Participating Countries. It will also welcome representatives of partner organizations working on related issues, as well as participants joining the Air Quality Action Week in Bangkok.

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Session description

Session 1: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a component of air pollution that includes 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, VOC monitoring and its related activities in the EANET region are still at an early stage.

Session 1 will showcase issues and challenges on VOCs. Experts and stakeholders from the EANET Participating Countries will discuss how VOCs can be monitored and possibly mitigated. Two examples, funded by MOEJ through the EANET Project Fund and co-finance, of technical assistance to build implementation plans in Mongolia and the Philippines will be show-cased, considering how to replicate similar activities in the EANET region and beyond.

Session 2: The Low-cost sensor (LCS) technology to measure air quality has remarkably advanced in recent years and is now widely used by the private sector and provides information on the atmospheric environment to citizens through data communication networks. Noticing the cost-effectiveness of LCS, international organizations have started to promote the use of LCS in selected areas to strengthen the capacity of governments where official air monitoring networks are insufficient.

In Session 2, we will learn about the wide potential of Low-Cost Sensors (LCS), including the related limitations and opportunities. Panelists will discuss improving air quality monitoring networks, citizen-data, and the development of hybrid monitoring networks, such as through the HAQMN Project funded by MOEJ through the EANET Project Fund and co-finance, and finally data and quality standards’ requirements. A deployment plan in Viet Nam, in collaboration with the ADB and other partners, will be presented, allowing possible similar deployments in the region.

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Draft Programme (updated on 19 May 2023)

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Download the Concept Note and Draft Programme here (updated on 24 April).

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The Speakers (in order of appearance)

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Ms. Marlene Nilsson

Ms. Marlene Nilsson joined UNEP, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in April 2023 as the Deputy Regional Director. Marlene is an experienced staff member with a career spanning over 20 years supporting United Nations leadership. Since 2019, she held the position of Senior Programme Management Officer/Special Assistant in the Office of the UNEP Executive Director. During her 11 years at UNEP, she also gained substantial programmatic and management experience, having worked in the Executive Office, Ecosystems Division and Policy and Programme Division. Prior to joining UNEP, Marlene spent 13 years with United Nations Peacekeeping, working on crisis management, peace negotiations, and political affairs both in the field (Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan) and at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Marlene holds a master’s degree in Political Science.

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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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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 has been 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 field 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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Dr. Zhu Meihua

Dr. Meihua Zhu serves as a Chief Senior Researcher in the Planning and Training Department & Atmospheric Research Department for Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). Her research interests include regional environmental cooperation, air pollution regulations, and policies. Besides research, she also plays a vital role in achieving the goals of EANET and ACAP in improving air quality and addressing air pollution problems through international collaboration, capacity building, and training.

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Prof. Hong Li

Prof. Hong Li is a professor at the Institute of Atmospheric Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES), China. She is a Member of the First Standing Committee of the two Professional Committees (Ozone Pollution Control, VOCs Prevention and Control) of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences and a member of the China Compliance Expert Group for the Montreal Protocol. She received her PhD from the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in 1998. Her research fields include complex pollution formation mechanisms and synergistic control mechanisms of PM2.5 and ground-level ozone, VOCs Environmental Benchmarks, and source analysis and control strategies of ozone-depleting substances. Currently, she is leading a city-level PM2.5 and ozone synergistic control “one city, one policy” follow-up research project, and also is an Editorial Board Member of three international journals.

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Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk

Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk is currently an Environmentalist, Senior Professional Level, at the Air Quality and Noise Management department of the Pollution Control Department (PCD). 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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Engr. Jundy T. Del Socorro

Engr. Jundy Tigley Del Socorro is the Chief of the Air Quality Management Section (AQMS) and a Supervising Environmental Management Specialist at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). He is also a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) member for the Philippines at the EANET. Over the years, he has participated in projects in the fields of Stack and Ambient Sampling Methods, Emission Inventory, Meteorology, Air Quality Dispersion Modeling, among others. He has authored and co-authored air quality studies in the fields of Industrial Mass Rate Emission, Impacts on Planetary Boundary Layer to Air Quality and other ongoing air quality research. He received his master’s degree in environmental engineering and Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering at Mapua University, Philippines. Engr. Del Socorro is a registered Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reviewer in the Philippines and has been a member of different Intergovernmental Technical Working Groups (TWG) in the formulation of key environmental policies in the Philippines.

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Dr. Akie Yuba

Dr. Akie Yuba is a Senior Researcher at Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). She is working on the Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) project to expand the air quality monitoring network in Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET).  She is also responsible for the monitoring and QA/QC management of the wet and dry deposition in Japan. She has 8 years of experience working on air quality issues in East Asia.

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Professor Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh

Professor Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, from the Asia Institute of Technology (AIT), is a member of the science panel of the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP). She has 35 years of working experience in research, education, consultancy, and capacity building and is internationally recognized for her work on air pollution and climate in Asia. Aiming to provide comprehensive science-based information to policy-making, she focuses on the better characterization of air pollution issues in Asian developing countries through field measurements, emission inventory and modeling studies to assess the impacts on human health, ecosystems, and crops. She has published 2 books (ed.), 120 international peer-reviewed scientific papers and 50 book chapters, and over 60 important development reports.

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Dr. Le Ngoc Cau

Dr. Le Ngoc Cau is currently Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN). IMHEN is a public research institution affiliated with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Vietnam. Dr. Cau is also Vietnam’s National Focal Point for the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). Dr. Cau’s core research interests include real-time mobile air quality monitoring, air quality management, waste management, low-carbon technologies for waste treatment, and climate change mitigation in the waste sector. Dr. Le Ngoc Cau graduated from Hanoi University of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in chemical and food processing engineering. He earned a master’s degree in environmental technology and management from the Asian Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. degree in environmental studies from The University of Tokyo, Japan.

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Ms. Dang Espita-Casanova

Ms. Dang Espita-Casanova oversees program development and strategic planning for Clean Air Asia’s impact initiatives on transport, energy, and urban air quality. She worked with government, private, and non-profit organizations in the early years of her professional career, with training and experience on environmental pollution chemistry and environmental management for more than 10 years. At Clean Air Asia, she leads projects focusing on capacity building of governments for air quality management and climate change mitigation through policy guidance and direct technical assistance on the development and implementation of clean air and climate action plans. Dang currently leads a team of specialists and researchers in operationalizing Clean Air Asia’s impact initiatives on sustainable transport, energy, and cities.

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Ms. Karine Léger

Ms. Karine Léger is the director of Airparif, the air quality monitoring network of the Paris Region, France. Karine has both a technical and management background, linked with environmental issues (Executive master in management at Science Po, Advanced Msc. in environmental management and engineering at Ecole des Mines, Eng. in agriculture at ISARA, BSc in Biology). Karine has 20 years of expertise in air pollution, related to communication, partnerships, innovation, and international projects. She first started to work at Airparif as an engineer, and then as the head of the communication and international department. Karine was then in charge of the partnerships and innovation before taking the lead of Airparif in 2018, also in charge of forecasting and assisting the authorities during air pollution episodes. Karine takes part in regional, national, and European working groups on air quality, public information, and communication strategy, develops and contributes to the management and development of different international projects mainly with Airparif’s counterparts abroad, such as the Beijing environmental monitoring center, the AQCC of Teheran, and the municipality of Hanoi.

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Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama

Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tokyo in 1976 and 1979, respectively, and is currently serving as the Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), Japan. Before being assigned to ACAP, Dr. Shiro HATAKEYAMA worked for the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, as President from 2016 to 2019; Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, as a Professor from 2007 to 2016, and now Professor Emeritus since 2016; National Institute of Environmental Science, as Scientist from 1979 to 2007. He also worked for NRC/NASA at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA, as a Senior Resident Research Associate from 1985 to 1986. Over more than 40 years of his research career in atmospheric environmental science, he has made many achievements in the field of atmospheric environmental research, including publishing 217 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and 34 books (including co-authored books).

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For further inquiries, contact the EANET Secretariat.

The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia, from data to policy – Join us on 20 June!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

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The registration is now closed.

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1. 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. The Network is composed of 13 Participating Countries and its main objectives are:

    • to create a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia;
    • to provide useful inputs for decision-making at the local, national, and regional levels aimed at preventing, or reducing adverse impacts on the environment caused by acid deposition;
    • and to contribute to cooperation on the issues related to acid deposition among the participating countries.

In the last 20 years, the EANET has made excellent progress in acid deposition monitoring cooperation. The Network has fostered a regional acid deposition monitoring methodology and scientific exchange platforms which have contributed gradually to solving acid deposition problems in East Asia.

However, due to rapid economic growth and industrialization, many countries in the East Asia region are still facing serious threats from acid deposition related pollutants, in a more global context where almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s air quality limits, hindering populations’ right to a healthy environment.

Since 2006, the EANET has been developing Periodic Reports on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSADs), published every four to 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), prepared by a Drafting Committee composed of members from the 13 EANET Participating Countries, will be released.

In November 2021, the Secretariat for the EANET organized the EANET Science and Policy Dialogue outreach event. In the results of the survey from the EANET Science and Policy Dialogue Event Report, it was suggested to discuss the findings from the Fourth Periodic Report on the State of Acid Deposition in East Asia (PRSAD4).

In November 2021, the IG23 approved the Work Programme and Budget of EANET in 2022, among which Objective 4, Activity 10: Promotion of public awareness on acid deposition, including other priority chemical species. In this respect, and in line with the efforts to facilitate the sharing of a common understanding of atmospheric environmental issues among the scientific and policy-makers communities, the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2022 will be organized virtually on Monday, 20 June 13:00-16:00 (ICT) under the name “The State of Acid Deposition in East Asia – from data to policy”.

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2. Objectives and Participants

The EANET Awareness Workshop is expected to increase public understanding of acid deposition issues, appreciate the work achieved in the last 20 years by the EANET from the monitoring, research, and policymaking perspectives, and generate collaboration ideas for future EANET Projects, based on the findings and recommendations from the PRSAD4.

The EANET Awareness Workshop is open to the public, but will mainly be attended by the EANET National Focal Points, Scientific Advisory Committee members, policymakers and national researchers and scientists of the Network’s 13 Participating Countries, and representatives of partner organizations working on acid deposition and air pollution-related issues.

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3. Programme

The virtual event will focus on sharing key findings from the PRSAD4, from the lead authors’ perspective, and provide some highlights for EANET Participating Countries’ policy-makers and other representatives, by sharing recommendations (on inputs for policies, technological improvements, and best practices…). The goal is to provide a discussion forum to brainstorm ideas to foster future projects and cooperation in the region.

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4. The Speakers (in order of appearance)

Dr. Isabelle Louis

Dr. Isabelle Louis, Deputy Regional Director of UNEP Asia Pacific office, has over 25 years of experience in sustainable development and natural resource management at global, Asia Pacific regional and national levels. She coordinates the UNEP’s work programme in the region pursuant to the organization’s mandate to support UN Member States on issues related to the environment, sustainability and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She oversees UNEP’s work related to strategic priorities:  climate change, pollution, nature-based solutions, resource efficiency, environmental law and governance, with approaches including science-based policies, sustainable financing, gender, human rights, and environment and health. She also facilitates UNEP’s strategic partnerships in the region.

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Mr. Kenichiro Fukunaga

Mr. Kenichiro Fukunaga is the Deputy Director General in charge of Administrative Management at Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). He provides support to the strategic development of the EANET in ACAP, including tackling the EANET transition period tasks of introducing the new EANET Project mechanism through communication and collaboration with various stakeholders, both internally and externally.

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Ms. Courtney Savie Lawrence

Ms. Courtney Savie Lawrence currently works with the UNDP Chief Digital Office and UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Teams on all things climate innovation, tech and digital while also coleading the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative and the Circular Design Lab as a volunteer. Over the past 15 years she has lived, worked and traveled across more than 70 countries with a laser focus on positive impact and is currently earning her Executive MBA at the University of Oxfrord’s Saïd Business School focused on the green transition.

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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 has been 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 Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES). He has been conducting research in the field 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 author and co-author of over 80 papers in highly regarded, peer-reviewed journals and is also adjunct professor and doctoral supervisor of Beijing Normal University and Tongji University of China.

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Mr. Jamalulail bin Abu Bakar

Mr. Jamalulail bin Abu Bakar is the Undersecretary for the Environmental Management Division, Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fishery from Agriculture University Malaysia (UPM) and a Master’s Degree in Corporate Communication from University Putra Malaysia (UPM). He was appointed as Administration and Diplomatic Officer in 1996 and posted at the Ministry of Agriculture. Since then, he has been working with various agencies and ministries including Embassy of Malaysia in the Rep. of Ireland, Public Service Department (JPA), Ministry of Higher Education, National Public Service Institute (INTAN) and Ministry of Education (MOE). He has a vast experience in international cooperation in agriculture cooperation and higher education promotion and marketing. Mr. Jamalulail joined Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia, in April 2020.

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Dr. Gantuya Ganbat

Dr. Gantuya Ganbat is an assistant professor of Environmental Engineering at the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology, Mongolia. She earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Meteorology from the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Russia, and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the Seoul National University, Republic of Korea. She worked for the Meteorological service and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia. She has been involved in regional professional activities, including Scientific Advisory Committee, East Asian Network in Acid Deposition (EANET) since 2018 and Science and Policy Committee, North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership since 2020.

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Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana

Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana is affiliated with the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University as a Senior Specialist in air pollution since 2017. He also serves as a Senior Advisor to the Thailand Environment Institute. Before that, he served in the Royal Thai Government for more than 30 years. He was the Director General of the Pollution Control Department (PCD) for 5 years in charge of the management of air quality, water quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, and chemicals and environmental law enforcement. Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana was awarded multiple awards among which the EANET Award of Recognition for his long term involvement and contribution from the start of the EANET, and in 2016 the Kong Ha Award for Excellence in Air Quality Management from Clean Air Asia (CAA). Between 2012-2015, Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana served as the Coordinator of the EANET Secretariat and a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Clean Air and Climate Coalition. Presently, he serves as a member of the Pollution Control Board of Thailand, a member of the Senate Sub-Commission on Environment, the Senior Advisor of Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), and the co-chair of the Advisory Group of Asian Co-benefit Partnership (AC).

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Prof. Hajime Akimoto

Prof. Hajime Akimoto received PhD in 1967 in physical chemistry from Tokyo Institute of Technology. After spending three years at the University of California, Riverside, as a postdoc, he has worked at the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), University of Tokyo, Frontier Research Center for Global Change at JAMSTEC. From 2009 to 2015, he served as DG of Asia Center for Air pollution Research (ACAP). After retiring from ACAP, he is now a guest scientist at NIES. His expertise is in atmospheric chemistry, and formation mechanisms of ozone and secondary aerosols. Recently, he focused his interest in the science and policy interface on SLCP co-control for air pollution and climate change mitigation.

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Dr. Mushtaq Memon

Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Memon is a Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme with the United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. He is a Pakistani national, and he is working with UNEP since 1 April 2005 for more than 17 years including 12 years at UNEP-IETC for water and sanitation, and waste management; and 5 years at UNEP-ROAP. He leads UNEP’s COVID-19 Response on COVID-19 waste management, he is also the Project Manager of the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia. He supervises GO4SDGs in the region. He led the Low-Carbon Lifestyle Challenge Startups. He got his PhD in Japan and a MSc in the UK. He published papers in international journals, participated in major global events, and delivered various training programmes.

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Dr. Zhu Meihua

Dr. Meihua Zhu serves as a senior researcher in the Planning and Training Department & Atmospheric Research Department for Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP). Her research interests include regional environmental cooperation, air pollution regulations, and policies. Besides research, she also plays a vital role in achieving the goals of EANET and ACAP in improving air quality and addressing air pollution problems through international collaboration, capacity building, and training.

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Mr. Victor Bernard

Mr. Victor Bernard is the Raoul Wallenberg Institute’s (RWI) programme officer specialised in the interlinkages between human rights and the environment. In this capacity, he leads many of RWI’s research and capacity development initiatives in Asia and the Pacific to strengthen knowledge bases on human rights, gender equality and the environment. In addition, he oversees technical support on integrating a rights-based approach into environmental programmes in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute.

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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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For further inquiries, contact the EANET Secretariat.

The EANET Science & Policy Dialogue in 2021

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

9 December 2021 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET Science & Policy Dialogue online event took place on Friday 26th of November 2021, alongside the EANET’s 20th Anniversary celebration,  gathering over one hundred participants from 30 countries to discuss better air quality for all.

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The Science & Policy Dialogue Opening and Keynote Sessions

The Science & Policy Dialogue online event followed the 20th Anniversary celebrations. It was inaugurated by Mr. Koki Azuma, Counsellor for Transboundary Pollution Analysis, General Affairs Division, Environmental Management Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

Dr. Hajime Akimoto, Guest Scientist at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, and also former Director-General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) presented the first Keynote Speech entitled: “Progress of Improvement, Challenges, and the Way forward on Air pollution Management in East Asia”. Dr. Markus Amann, Scientist from the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Science Panel, and former Program Director at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), then presented the second Keynote Speech: “Bringing Science and Policy in Tackling Air Pollution: Lessons Learned from Europe and Asia”.

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Bridging Science and Policy: The perspective of Future Cooperation on Air Pollution in the Region, the Panel Discussion

The Science & Policy Dialogue continued with a Panel Discussion regrouping experts gathered to discuss: “Bridging Science and Policy: The perspective of Future Cooperation on Air Pollution in the Region”.

Dr. Fan Meng, Deputy Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP); Prof. Young Sunwoo, Director General of the International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA); Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Thailand; Mr. Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director, Clean Air Asia; Dr. Qingfeng Zhang, Chief of the Rural Development and Food Security Thematic Group, and OIC/Chief of the Environment Thematic Group at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); Dr. Markus Amann, Scientist, Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Science Panel and Dr. Hajime Akimoto, Guest Scientist, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan (NIES) joined this discussion.

Key discussion points included the importance of sound science-based information for policymakers, the necessity of improving communication among actors, as part of systemic approaches and in line with available funding strategies. The EANET’s strengths, including the Network’s longevity and its large number of Participating Countries, were also noted, highlighting its great opportunities for future wider collaborations at regional and international levels.

 
Useful Resources

Download the two Keynote presentations:

Read a more detailed summary of the events’ content in the EANET 20th Anniversary of the EANET and the Science & Policy Dialogue Event Report

View all the event’s videos on the Secretariat for the EANET’s YouTube channel and photos on Flickr.

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

The 20th Anniversary of the EANET

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

9 December 2021 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET 20th Anniversary celebration was organized online, alongside the Science & Policy Dialogue, on Friday 26th of November 2021, gathering over one hundred participants from 30 countries, to discuss better air quality for all.

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The EANET’s 20th Anniversary Opening Ceremony

Established in 2001 as an intergovernmental network to create a common understanding on the status of acid deposition in East Asia, the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) celebrated in 2021 its twenty years of successful inter-regional cooperation and activities.

The EANET’s 20th Anniversary celebration was hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, and H.E. Mr. Yutaka Shoda, the Vice-Minister from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, opened the celebrations by delivering the Opening Remarks.

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Dr. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative, UN Environment Programme for Asia and the Pacific shared the event’s Welcome Remarks, followed by Congratulatory Remarks from the EANET National Focal Points from Malaysia, Thailand, and China. These were shared by Mr. Jamalulail bin Abu Bakar, Undersecretary, Environmental Management Division, Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia; Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon, Director of the Transboundary Air Pollution Subdivision, Air Quality and Noise Management Division, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and by Mr. Zhou Jun, Director, Division of Asian, African and Latin American Affairs, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China.

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The Launch of the Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET

To close the celebrations, Mr. Mohan Kumar Sammathuria, Principal Assistant Director of the Atmospheric Sciences, and Cloud Seeding Division, Malaysian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Environment and Water, Malaysia, and the Chairperson of the EANET Scientific Advisory Committee for 2021-2023, presented the newly launched publication “Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET“.

The Summary of the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET has been prepared based on the data accumulated in the past twenty years of activity of the EANET. It aims at providing a common understanding of the status of acid deposition in East Asia in an easily understandable manner. In addition, it may serve as a guidance document for policymakers, students, civil society, and various organizations that may become EANET partners soon.

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Useful Resources

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

EANET 20th Anniversary and Science & Policy Dialogue – Join us on November 26!

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Join us for the EANET 20th Anniversary and Science & Policy Dialogue on Friday, 26th of November 2021, from 13:00 to 16:30 Indochina Time (ICT), to discuss bridging science and policy, and better air quality for all.

 

The registration is now closed

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BACKGROUND

The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network In East Asia (EANET) has supported the region in the last 20 years. Following its success in tackling acid deposition issues, in November 2020, the 22nd Session of the Intergovernmental meeting of EANET (IG22) decided to expand the scope of the EANET from acid deposition to wider air pollution. As a continuation of the Decisions of IG22, on 24-25 November 2021, the IG23 will decide more detailed arrangements on the expansion of the scope of the EANET. In sequence to IG23, the EANET will organize two events on 26 November 2021: the Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET and the EANET Science and Policy Dialogue.

The events aim to i) celebrate the EANET’s twentieth anniversary; ii) share its publication “Summary of The Twentieth Anniversary of The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)” and iii) provide opportunities for policymakers and scientists to consider expectations and potential roles for new EANET. The events are open to the public and are expected to be attended by policymakers, experts, and stakeholders in the region, including partner organizations.

 

The Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET 

The EANET is a regional intergovernmental network established in 2001 to promote cooperation among thirteen Participating Countries in East Asia to address acid deposition problems. In the last 20 years, the EANET has made excellent progress in acid deposition monitoring cooperation. The EANET has fostered a regional acid deposition monitoring network and scientific knowledge exchange platform and has contributed to solving acid deposition problems in East Asia through its scientific inputs.

Accumulating the progress of the EANET in the last 20 years, a new publication, ‘Summary of The Twentieth Anniversary of The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET),” was developed targeting policymakers and relevant stakeholders in the region. In line with this, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), as the host of the IG23 of the EANET, will also host the “Twentieth Anniversary of the EANET” in commemoration of the significant milestones of the EANET in its twenty years of contribution, including the launching of the said publication.

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The EANET Science and Policy Dialogue

Following the decision to expand the scope of EANET by IG22 in 2020, the EANET continuously prepared all necessary arrangements in 2021, aiming to ensure its readiness to implement the activities and strengthen the impacts of its activities through collaboration with partners. This year, the IG23 will decide detailed arrangements of the expansion of scope as well as collaborating and funding mechanisms. In line with that, the EANET Science and Policy Dialogue will be organized virtually on 26 November 2021 with the theme “The Potential Role of EANET in Line with its Expansion of Scope”.

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Continue reading “EANET 20th Anniversary and Science & Policy Dialogue – Join us on November 26!”

Understanding Rain and Acid Deposition Phenomenon in Indonesia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Understanding Rain and Acid Deposition Phenomenon in Indonesia Featured image

14 July 2020 – Bangkok, Thailand

The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency, BMKG, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Indonesia, KLHK, and the IPB University, organized a webinar on “Rain and Acid Deposition Phenomenon in Indonesia” on Tuesday, 14 July 2020. The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) Secretariat Coordinator and EANET’s Representatives for Indonesia joined the event online to introduce the Network and its activities in Indonesia.

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Acid Deposition’s Impacts on the Environment in Indonesia Explained

Rain and Acid Deposition Phenomenon in Indonesia Webinar500 participants from different regions of Indonesia attended the webinar, eager to learn about the impacts on the environment of acid deposition in Indonesia.

The Webinar was opened by a Keynote Speech delivered by Ir. Herman Hermawan, Senior Policy expert, KLHK. It was followed by a presentation by Dr. Ir. Dodo Gunawan, Head of Center of Information and Climate Change, BMKG, and member of EANET’s Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), focusing on the “Quality of Chemical Composition of Rainwater in Indonesia”.

Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Hari Sukadi Alikodra, Professor of Faculty of Forestry, IPB University, delivered a presentation on “Rain and Phenomenon of Acid Deposition in Indonesia: Potential Impact on Agriculture and Food Security”. After that, Mr. Djurit Teguh Prakoso, Head of Sub Directorate at KLHK and EANET Contact Person for Indonesia, delivered a presentation on “Policy Control on Air Pollution and Acid Deposition”.

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Monitoring Acid Deposition Data in Indonesia with EANET

To introduce EANET and its contribution to the region, Mr. Tomi Haryadi, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET, delivered a presentation on “EANET: Intergovernmental Cooperation on Acid Deposition in Asia Region”. Lastly, Ms. Retno Puji Lestari, Researcher at KLHK and also EANET National QA/QC Manager for Indonesia, delivered a presentation on Acid Deposition Monitoring in Indonesia.

Interested in finding out more about acid deposition data in Indonesia? Visit EANET’s site information page to read more about EANET’s monitoring sites in Bandung, Jakarta, Kototabang, Maros, and Serpong.

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Photo credits: Featured image of Banda Aceh by Arto Marttinen free of the copyright license. Event image: courtesy of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia, all rights reserved.