Tag: human health

Nations re-affirm their engagement to improve air quality globally through a new resolution at UNEA-6

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 28 March 2024

The 6th edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) took place from 26 February to 1 March 2024, at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, gathering over 6,000 delegates. The Assembly adopted 15 resolutions, including a resolution on Promoting Regional Cooperation on Air Pollution to Improve Air Quality Globally.

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What is UNEA?

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) was created in 2012, as an outcome of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment. Usually held every two years, the Assembly includes the universal membership of 193 Member States. It sets the global environment agenda, provides policy responses to environmental challenges, and provides strategic guidance on the future direction of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNEA has adopted many important resolutions over the years, including a resolution in 2022 that called for a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.

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UNEP video “The world is in Nairobi – day one at #UNEA6″

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Taking Action to Fight Air Pollution

Recognizing that air pollution is a major threat to the environment and to human health, with more than 7 million people dying prematurely due to air pollution every year, Member States adopted a resolution 1/7 on strengthening the role of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in promoting air quality at UNEA-1 in 2014. A second resolution was adopted at UNEA-3 in December 2017 on Preventing and reducing air pollution to improve air quality globally. Following the adoption of these two resolutions, UNEP implemented numerous activities creating awareness, building capacity and partnerships. These included strengthening cooperation with existing regional and global initiatives such as the EANET, as mentioned specifically in resolution 1/7.

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UNEA’s Third Resolution on Air Quality

At UNEA-6, Member States adopted 15 resolutions aiming to tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste, including the resolution on Promoting Regional Cooperation on Air Pollution to Improve Air Quality Globally.

This new resolution builds on Resolutions 1/7 and 3/8 and encourages Member States to continue their efforts to improve air quality by working on national air quality programmes and standards, bearing in mind the WHO global air quality guidelines. In addition, Member States requested UNEP’s Executive Director to form an air quality cooperation network to work with governments, UN organizations, multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), international and regional initiatives, including the EANET. This network’s tasks will include raising awareness on air pollution’s impacts and the importance of mitigation actions, supporting capacity building, and encouraging collaboration with Member States with advanced air quality management capabilities to enhance national monitoring using low-cost sensors, satellite data, and other digital solutions, sharing knowledge, facilitating expertise exchange including on nitrogen management, and regional air quality programs, and building an updated global online platform for information-sharing and communication on air quality.

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How the EANET can contribute to the implementation of this resolution

Just as in Resolution 1.7, this latest Resolution directly references the EANET and its role alongside various other key regional air quality initiatives: “Acknowledging the progress achieved by existing bodies and initiatives that facilitate cooperation on in-country and transboundary air pollution, including the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (…) and the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia”.

The EANET, as a robust regional intergovernmental body with standardized monitoring methodologies, already significantly contributes to UNEA Resolutions 1/7 and 3/8 on air quality. Since 2001, the network has developed open access high-quality datasets through centralized and government-approved data collection, publishes Periodic Reports on Acid Deposition in East Asia, leads joint research projects, offers capacity-building activities to enhance its Participating Countries’ technical capabilities, raises public awareness and strengthens cooperation with regional and global initiatives.

The EANET coordinates with other global and regional networks and initiatives to promote cooperation. In May-June 2024, the EANET, together with UNEP and ESCAP, are organizing the Workshop “Unlocking and Future-Proofing Air Quality Management in Asia”. The Workshop will provide a venue for EANET National Focal Points to discuss the future direction of its network and inputs for the development of its next Medium Term Plan for 2026-2030.

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Photo credits: UNEA-6, the Opening plenary of the MEA day, 28 February 2024, ©UNEP / Francis Kiguta on Flickr.

Exploring the Impacts of Air Pollution on Health and the Environment: Highlights of the EANET Seminar

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

The EANET Seminar on the Effects of Acid Deposition and Air Pollution on Human Health and Ecosystems

Bangkok, 25 January 2024

The EANET Seminar on the Effects of Acid Deposition and Air Pollution on Human Health and Ecosystems was conducted online on 31 October 2023 and aimed to gain knowledge, learn from pollution reduction efforts globally, and foster a collective understanding among scientists and policymakers. Approximately 80 participants joined the seminar online, contributing to meaningful discussions on the adverse effects of air pollution.

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Opening Statements

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), the Network Center for the EANET, and Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET.

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International Perspectives on Environmental Policymaking Related to Air Pollution and Health

Mr. Thomas Scheuschner, an expert from the German Environmental Agency specializing in ICP Modeling and Mapping under UNECE, started by presenting the: “Critical load assessment and its contribution to policy decision making in Europe.” In his presentation, he highlighted the key milestones of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and then explained how Critical Load Approaches and analyses can be used for air quality management strategies, by presenting Critical Load estimation methods and the European Critical Load database, among others.

Dr. Dorota Jarosinska from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO, followed with her presentation on “Experience of policy-making based on scientific evidence of the Task Force on Health under the CLRTAP and WHO with CLRTAP.” In her presentation, Dr. Jarosinska introduced the Joint Task Force on the Health Aspects of Air Pollution (TFH) established under the CLRTAP and its work plan, before explaining the importance of the new WHO global air quality guidelines, and how they are being used by policymakers in the European Union.

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Finally, Dr. Hiroaki Minoura from Nagoya University of Commerce & Business, presented his findings on the “Health effects study of in vivo and in vitro exposure to automobile emissions.” He explained the results from in vivo testing to assess health risks of emissions from transport, in vitro toxicological screening for automotive emission-related substances, and an epidemiological assessment of automobile-related health risks.

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Closing Remarks

The session concluded with closing remarks delivered by Prof. Fan Meng, Deputy Director General of ACAP. The seminar was marked by discussions among participants contributing to fostering a better understanding of the complex relationship between air pollution, human health, and the environment.

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Find out more about the EANET Project Fund.

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Useful Resources:
  • View the Seminar’s recordings on YouTube

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Photo credits: Cover photo by Joseph Gonzalez (2016); all other photos and videos: all rights reserved to EANET.

Workshop on the Relationship between the Atmospheric Environment, Human Health and Ecosystems

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

10 November 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Workshop « Relationships between the Atmospheric Environment, Human Health, and Ecosystems » virtually, on 31 October 2022. It gathered 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 the Network Center for the EANET, who shared scientific findings on the effects of atmospheric deposition on human health and ecosystems as well as best science-based practices for policymakers. About 50 participants joined the Workshop.

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Scientific knowledge of the atmospheric environment and related effects in East Asia

Prof. Kayo Ueda, from the Graduate School of Medicine of Hokkaido University, analyzed the effects of air pollution on human health in Japan, Thailand and beyond, and showed how exposure to specific air pollutants could cause various health outcomes aside from respiratory diseases. She also explained how to estimate the mortality using epidemiological evidence and emphasized improving air quality could prevent millions of pollution-related deaths per year.

Prof. Zhaozhong Feng, from the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, explained the results of his research on the effects of ozone on crop production in Asia. After presenting the trends of surface ozone concentrations at the global scale, he highlighted the impacts of ozone on crops and yield loss in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Results from his work demonstrated that China showed the highest relative yield loss compared to Japan and the Republic of Korea. It also estimated the total ozone-induced annual loss of crop production at US$63 billion, revealing the need to take necessary mitigation actions for ozone emission control and adaptive agronomic measures against the rising surface ozone levels across East Asia.

Dr. Hiroyuki Sase is the Head of the Ecological Impact Research Department of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), Network Center (NC) for the EANET. His presentation focused on the effects of atmospheric deposition on forest ecosystems. Dr. Sase presented the changes in atmospheric deposition in the EANET joint research sites including Thailand, Japan, and Russia, and explained the different responses of forest ecosystems in various climatic zones. Key findings from the EANET sites showed that although atmospheric deposition had decreased, recovery from acidification and/or from nitrate saturation had not been necessarily observed in forest ecosystems.

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Science-based policy experiences from Europe and beyond

Ms. Anna Kaplina, Secretariat, Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), presented the history and successes of the UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution over the last 40 years. Among these achievements, she highlighted the decrease in emissions from 40% to 80% since 1990 in the UNECE region, resulting from the expertise, policy guidance, and capacity building among the 51 Parties.

Dr. Dorota Jarosinska, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, presented the Work of the Task Force on Health under the CLRTAP and the relevant work of WHO beyond this cooperation. She highlighted, among other points, the key role of the WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines, which form robust public health recommendations, support informed decision-making worldwide, and include a comprehensive assessment of the evidence on air pollution.

Dr. Zbigniew Klimont, a scientist from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), shared his presentation on the Integrated assessment modeling contribution to Air Convention protocols by taking the example of the Gothenburg Protocol (1999), introducing also scientific tools such as the Greenhouse gas Air pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model aiming at seeking win-win solutions in policy-oriented cooperation.

Find out more about this Workshop in the Useful Resources section.

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Useful Resources

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Photo credits: featured photo of Schronisko PTTK Hala Kondratowa, Zakopane, Poland (2018) by Marcin Szmigiel on Unsplash.

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

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Registration is now closed.

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1. Background

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

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

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2. Objectives and Participants

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

This workshop consists of three sessions as follows:

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

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

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3. Agenda and Program

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4. Date, Time, and Location

Date: 19 Dec 2022 (Monday)

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

Online: Register for the hybrid event here.

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

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.