Tag: IIASA

Kick-off Meeting – Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 18 April 2024

The Secretariat for the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) and the Asian Institute of Technology – Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), organized the kick-off meeting of the project “Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia” on 26 March 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The objective of the meeting was to better understand the emissions inventories and source apportionment situation in the countries of Southeast Asia and discuss with project partners and experts the framework for metadata analysis and project ideas on emission inventories and source apportionment studies in the region.

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Opening Session

Representatives from the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center (NAIR) in Korea, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Philippines, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the Centre Interprofessionnel Technique d’Etudes de la Pollution Atmosphérique (CITEPA), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Clean Air Asia (CAA), the Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the Asia Center For Air Pollution Research (ACAP), the Regional Resource Center For Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP), the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the EANET Secretariat attended the meeting with a total of 28 participants.

Dr. Mushtaq Memon from UNEP opened the meeting, and, in his remarks, he stressed the importance of regional mechanisms like EANET for addressing air pollution. He highlighted the need for emission inventories, supportive policies, air quality standards, stakeholder engagement, and public awareness.

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Expert Insights from the EANET Participating Countries and Non-governmental Organizations

Experts from the EANET region and Europe presented use cases on emission inventories and source apportionment in different settings.

Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul from AIT discussed Thailand’s emission inventory experience, emphasizing an integrated approach to air quality management, and outlining the plans for the Thailand National Emission Inventory project. Dr. Jongmin Joo from NAIR introduced the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS) and the Republic of Korea’s National Emissions and Air Quality Assessment System (NEAS), detailing their methodologies and their integration into policymaking and governmental acknowledgment. Mr. Jundy del Socorro from EMB, Philippines, discussed emission inventory development, highlighting methodologies and regional contributions to air pollutants, as well as introducing the Philippines’ Integrated Information System (IIS) for data coordination.

Dr. Zbigniew Klimont from IIASA presented the Greenhouse Gas Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) model, emphasizing its use in assessing emission control strategies’ cost-effectiveness and showcasing case studies in Asia. Dr. Sophie Moukhtar from CITEPA discussed emissions inventories under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), emphasizing their importance and reporting obligations. Dr. Chris Malley from SEI presented the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning Integrated Benefits Calculator (LEAP-IBC) for integrated air pollution and climate change mitigation assessment, while Mr. Enrique Mikhael Cosep from CAA discussed emission inventories and source apportionment challenges in Asia.

Dr. Jun-ichi Kurokawa from ACAP presented the EANET’s activities related to emission inventories and source apportionment, highlighting ongoing projects.

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Project Discussion

The project kick-off meeting continued with discussions among participants on how to develop a relevant framework for metadata analysis of the studies in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Ram Lal Verma from AIT RRC.AP provided an initial review of existing emission inventories in Southeast Asian countries, highlighting available research studies and developed inventories in several countries in the region. Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh from AIT discussed the meta-analysis of emission inventory and source apportionment databases in Southeast Asia, proposing a framework and sharing database templates.

Participants expressed insights on follow-up activities and projects of EANET, emphasizing the need to avoid duplication of work and standardize frameworks for emission inventories and source apportionment methodologies. It was agreed that government involvement is crucial for data collection and quality assurance when developing emission inventories. Participants stressed the necessity of regional mechanisms to harmonize emission inventories’ methodologies and processes.

Source apportionment studies were noted as important but lacking in ASEAN countries, requiring capacity building and resources. Volatile Organic Compound speciation and Greenhouse gas emissions’ emission inventories processes were suggested for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Finally, lessons from the European Union’s common frameworks for emission inventories were discussed as an important model to consider for the ASEAN region.

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The next meeting of the project will be held on 29 May in Bangkok, Thailand, back to back with the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop.

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The project Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia is being conducted with the support of the EANET Project Fund.

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View the meeting’s photos.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

Sustainable Nitrogen Management Seminar: Experts Convene to Address Global Challenges

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

nitrogen seminar

Bangkok, 23 February 2024

As a pre-seminar to UNEA-6, the Sustainable Nitrogen Management Seminar, addressed the significant yet underrepresented issue of nitrogen management in Asia and globally, and provided a platform for EANET Participating Countries to enhance their understanding of the nitrogen challenge. Organized virtually by EANET, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, through the EANET Project Fund, the Seminar gathered around 100 participants. It aimed to explore strategies for sustainable nitrogen management through experts’ lectures and discuss the accumulation of nitrogen data within the EANET framework.

The seminar, facilitated by Ms. Aurélia Lemoine (Session 1) and by Bert Fabian (Session 2) from the Secretariat for the EANET, hosted by UNEP, started with an opening address by Mr. Yu Kamei, Director for International Cooperation at the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.

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Global Trends and Insights

Dr. Ning Liu,  Programme Management Officer, Source to Sea Pollution Unit, UNEP, presented updates on the UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing nitrogen-related challenges. Prof. Kentaro Hayashi, Professor, at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan emphasized the interconnectedness of nitrogen issues with the atmosphere and the overall narrative surrounding nitrogen management.

Dr. Wilfried Winiwarter, a Senior Research Scholar from the Pollution Management Research Group, Energy, Climate, and Environment at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria, presented the use of nitrogen budgets for sustainable management, highlighting comprehensive approaches to tackle nitrogen-related issues. Dr. Kazuya Nishina, a Senior Researcher at the Earth System Division (Biogeochemical Cycle Modeling and Analysis Section), from the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES),  introduced the Japan Nitrogen Waste project, underlining the importance of national inventories in understanding nitrogen dynamics.

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EANET’s Role in Nitrogen Management

Dr. Hiroyuki Sase, Head of the Ecological Impact Research Department, ACAP, presented the potential of EANET in contributing to sustainable nitrogen management, emphasizing the importance of monitoring nitrogen cycles comprehensively. Dr. Le Ngoc Cau, Deputy Director General, Viet Nam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Viet Nam, highlighted efforts in Viet Nam to identify and control nitrate pollution in water bodies, reflecting the global significance of nitrogen management.

The seminar featured Q&A sessions, where participants raised questions regarding the implications of ammonia as a new fuel and the role of nitrogen in European farming practices. Discussions revolved around the need for enhanced collaboration and the significance of localized approaches in nitrogen management strategies.

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Moving Forward

Wrapping up Part I, Prof. Hayashi emphasized the pivotal role of EANET in addressing atmospheric aspects of nitrogen management, stressing its direct and indirect contributions to sustainable practices. Dr. Sase concluded Part II by highlighting EANET’s extensive data accumulation efforts, emphasizing its potential to understand nitrogen flows comprehensively. Experts reiterated the importance of EANET’s role in nitrogen management, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration and data-driven approaches.

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Find out more about the EANET Project Fund

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Useful Resources

Panelists’ Presentations

1. Update on UNEP Working Group on Nitrogen by Mr. Liu

2. The overall story about the nitrogen issue connected to the atmosphere by Prof. Hayashi

3. Using nitrogen budgets for sustainable nitrogen management by Dr. Winiwarter

4. The Potential of EANET to Contribute to Sustainable Nitrogen Management by Dr. Sase

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Photo credits: featured photo by Dr. Mingqun Huo, all rights reserved.

Kick-off Meeting – Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Emissions inventories kick-off meeting

1. Background

EANET is working to reduce acid deposition and air pollution in Northeast and Southeast Asia. It is an intergovernmental initiative established in 2001 including 13 Participating Countries initially focused on acid deposition. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to cover broader air pollution issues and established a Project Fund mechanism to promote cooperation with other organizations outside of EANET.

EANET’s activities are guided by its five-year Medium-Term Plans and a detailed Work Programme and Budget including projects, approved by the Participating Countries every year. A project called “Stocktaking and Methodological Assessment of Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia” has been approved for implementation in 2024, at the Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) on the EANET, as a Project Activity, funded by the EANET Project Fund and implemented in partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology, Regional Resource for Asia Pacific (RRC.AP/AIT).

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2. Objectives

Emissions inventories and source apportionment of air pollution are fundamental elements of an air quality management framework. They enable policymakers, government regulators, and experts to better understand the sources of air pollution and their contribution to ambient air quality and identify appropriate policies. Many emissions inventory and source apportionment studies have been conducted in the EANET region.

This project aims to collate and analyze relevant key studies based on research and consultations with EANET National Focal Points and make these studies available as a database on the EANET website. The project will also identify follow-up opportunities and projects to work emissions inventories and/or source apportionment in the region.

An inception meeting of the project will be organized on Tuesday 26 March 2024 at the UN Conference Center (UNCC), meeting room B,  in Bangkok, Thailand. The objective of the meeting is to better understand the emissions inventory/ source apportionment situation in Southeast Asia and discuss with potential project partners the detailed activities to be carried out in the project. Participation in this meeting is by invitation only.

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2. Draft Agenda (updated on 22 MAR)
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Find out more about the EANET Project Activities on the EANET Project Fund page, and contact the Secretariat for the EANET for more information on the Emissions Inventories project.

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.