Tag: Indonesia

Indonesia Hosts Pivotal Air Quality Events Showcasing Collaborative Solutions and Regional Action

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine
From left to right: Mr. Iyad Kheirbek, Director of Air Quality, C40; Mr. Rachmat Kaimuddin, Deputy, CMMI; Ms. Liang Wenyue, Director General, Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau; Ms. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director UNEP; Mr. Rui Luo, Director of Global Energy Transition, Bloomberg Philanthropies

26 September 2024 – Jakarta, Indonesia

In the first week of September 2024, Indonesia hosted a series of key air quality events showcasing collaborative solutions and regional action. These included the workshop “Advancing Science-Based Local Actions to Combat Air Pollution in Greater Jakarta” (Sept 2-3) by Viriya ENB and Clean Air Asia, the “Southeast Asia Climate Philanthropy Forum” (Sept 4) organized by hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment (CMMI), and the “Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF)” (Sept 5-6), led by the CMMI.

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Advancing Science-Based Local Actions to Combat Air Pollution in Greater Jakarta

The workshop Advancing Science-Based Local Actions to Combat Air Pollution in Greater Jakarta discussed the city’s worsening air quality and actions to address this issue. Opening remarks by Dr. Suzanty Sitorus (Viriya ENB), Mrs. Velly Asvaliantina (CMMI), and Ms. Catherine Witherspoon (ClimateWorks) emphasized the importance of science in tackling pollution. Information on air pollution sources shared by CMMI revealed that vehicles contribute 42%-57% of pollutants during the dry season and 32%-41% during the rainy season, with coal-fired plants, construction activities, and open waste burning also contributing significantly. Discussions included efforts to reduce pollution, such as shifting to renewable energy, and challenges such as upgrading fuel quality to Euro4 standards were also highlighted. Experts from Thailand (Thailand Pollution Control Department – PCD), China (Beijing Transport Institute, Center for Science and Environment – CSE) and Indonesia (Jakarta Transportation Management Body – Badan Pengelola Transportasi Jabodetabek/BPJT –  and Institute for Transportation and Development Policy – ITDP) called for stricter emission standards, better fuel quality, and the promotion of electric vehicles.

On the second day, experts from EANET, Peking University, China, the National Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi/ BRIN), the Institute for Global Environment Strategies (IGES), the Clean Air Fund (CAF), and the Imperial College of London, stressed the need for collaboration between scientists and policymakers for tailored solutions, as pollutant compositions vary between cities. Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET, emphasized the need to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation to create effective and locally appropriate air quality strategies. He highlighted the role of EANET in scientific cooperation among countries in East Asia including Indonesia, and its new mandate to work on air pollution.

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Advancing Science-Based Local Actions to Combat Air Pollution in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia
Some panelists at the Workshop Advancing Science-Based Local Actions to Combat Air Pollution in Greater Jakarta on 3 September 2024. From left to right: Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET; Ms. Fu Lu, China Director, Clean Air Asia; Mr. Didin Permadi, Lecturer, National Institute of Technology; Ms. Puji Lestari, Professor, Bandung Institute of Technology; Mr. Mohammed Mead, Head of Air Quality Measurement, Imperial College of London; Ms. Ririn Radiawati Kusuma, Indonesia Director, Clean Air Asia

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Southeast Asia Climate Philanthropy Forum

On September 4, the Southeast Asia Climate Philanthropy Forum convened, marking a milestone as the first forum of its kind in the region. The event provided an inclusive platform to accelerate people-centered climate solutions. A key breakout session focused on air pollution and inclusivity, featuring panelists from C40 Cities, UNICEF Indonesia, DILANS (The Movement of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly in Indonesia), and PT Transportasi Jakarta (the city’s public transport operator).

The session stressed the need to involve vulnerable and marginalized communities in efforts to tackle air pollution and ensure access to clean air. According to PT Transportasi Jakarta, although public transportation covers 98% of Jakarta, only 13 bus-stops currently offer accessibility for disabled individuals.

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Indonesia International Sustainability Forum

The Indonesia International Sustainability Forum, held on September 5-6, was inaugurated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who reiterated the nation’s commitment to addressing climate change, energy transition, and sustainability goals. Indonesia reaffirmed its pledge to achieve net-zero emissions in the face of the growing climate crisis.

During Plenary 5, “Pioneering Solutions for Urban Air Pollution,” speakers, including Ms. Dechen Tsering, UNEP’s Executive Director for the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific; Mr. Rui Luo, Director of Global Energy Transition at Bloomberg Philanthropies; Ms. Liang Wenyue, Director General of Beijing’s Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau; and Mr. Iyad Kheirbek, Director of Air Quality at C40, shared insights into addressing urban air pollution in some of the most polluted cities in Asia Pacific. The session highlighted the importance of regional cooperation to tackle the transboundary nature of air pollution. UNEP, which hosts the EANET Secretariat, also emphasized the role of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)’s Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP) in fostering greater regional collaboration.

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These events underscored the urgent need for collaborative science-based solutions to combat air pollution across Southeast Asia, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration —from science to policy — and ensuring inclusivity in finding sustainable solutions.

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Find out more about the EANET and its air quality monitoring stations in Indonesia.

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Photo credits: cover photo: the fifth plenary discussion at the Indonesian International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2024 at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) Senayan, Jakarta, on 5/9/2024. ©ANTARA FOTO/Novrian Arbi/Spt. All other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

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Shaping Future Leaders: The Fellowship for Building Leadership in Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Management in East Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

21 August 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

On August 9, 2024, the EANET successfully concluded its Fellowship Program with a closing session held both in-person at Fudan University, in Shanghai, and online. The event marked the culmination of months of dedicated research and collaboration aimed at advancing air quality management and atmospheric science across the East Asian region.

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About the Fellowship

The Fellowship for Building Leadership in Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Management in East Asia is a program organized by the Network Center for the EANET, hosted by the  Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), in collaboration with Fudan University (FDU), in Shanghai, China, and Clean Air Asia (CAA). It aims to strengthen the research capacity of young government officers and researchers in the Participating Countries, particularly in developing countries. It seeks to promote research and scientific policy-making while developing leadership skills among EANET participants. The program encourages interdisciplinary research and enhances cooperation between academia and government to address complex challenges in the atmospheric environment in the EANET region. Additionally, it provides a platform for the next generation of researchers and government officials to engage in integrated discussions and reflections, preparing them to manage EANET in the future.

Open to participants from the 13 EANET Participating Countries, the program was held for six months in 2024 including two alternate on-site research sessions at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and the Network Center for the EANET in Niigata, Japan, from July 15 to August 9, 2024. Five participants were selected, engaging in monthly online meetings and intensive on-site training from July 15 to August 9, 2024, with progress reporting and discussions with designated supervisors in both China and Japan.

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On-site Sessions in Japan and China

The on-site session started in Japan from July 15 to July 27, 2024, followed by China from July 28 to August 10, 2024.

In Japan, the first day started with the fellows’ introduction to the Research Plan & Progress Report, conducted both in-person at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) headquarters in Niigata, Japan, and online. The Opening Session was moderated by Dr. Ken Yamashita, Head of the Planning and Training Department, and the Opening Remarks were delivered by Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Director General of ACAP, Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET, Prof. Xu Tang, Executive Director of IRDR International Center of Excellence on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health at Fudan University (FDU-IRDR ICoE-RIG-WECEIPHE), and Dr. FU Lu, the China Director of Clean Air Asia. The speakers expressed their hopes that the fellows’ research would contribute to creating cleaner air across East Asia and that this program would serve as a strong foundation for international collaborative research. Supervisors from the Network Center for the EANET (NC) and research fellows discussed their research studies intensively at the NC for 2 weeks. During the program, Dr. Hajime Akimoto, Emeritus Research Fellow of the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) and Science Advisor of ACAP, delivered a lecture titled “Past and Present Challenges to Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry,” sharing scientific insights related to the expansion of EANET’s scope. Additionally, discussions were held with supervisors and researchers from ACAP about EANET’s future development & fellows’ contributions.

Fellows in ACAP, Niigata, Japan

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In China, the on-site session was organized by the IRDR ICoE-RIG-WECEIPHE and MAP-AQ Aisan Office Shanghai, Fudan University. The fellows participated in the International Summer School Program on Climate Change and Related Risks held at Fudan University’s Jiangwan campus and joined discussions, under the supervision of FDU. The program featured lectures by several internationally acclaimed scholars and leaders in their respective fields. Additionally, the fellows visited the greenhouse gas lab and atmospheric chemistry lab of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, FDU, the Shanghai Environmental Monitoring Center, and the relevant facilities related to air quality management. Fudan University also gifted souvenirs and cultural shirts with the logo of this year’s training course to the fellows and organizers.

Fellows at Fudan University, China

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Highlights of Fellows’ Presentations

The session featured five fellows, each presenting their research projects, which covered a broad spectrum of atmospheric and environmental studies.

  • Indonesia: The fellow, from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), presented his study on the impact of anabatic and katabatic winds on the dispersion and concentration of PM2.5 in Bandung Basin, utilizing the WRF-Chem Model.
  • Malaysia: The fellow, from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), focused on the long-term trends of acid deposition in Malaysia and the corresponding impacts of forest fires.
  • Myanmar: The fellow, a Staff Officer at Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), provided an overview of air quality in Yangon, highlighting significant challenges and potential solutions.
  • The Philippines: The fellow, from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources, discussed her research on determining potential EANET monitoring sites based on sulfur dioxide emissions in the northern region – Northeastern Pangasinan.
  • Russia: The fellow, from the Yu.A. Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology (IGCE), shared her findings on acidifying compounds runoff discharge and its variations at the Pereemnaya River, Baikal Lake Region.

Following the presentations, participants provided feedback and comments that underscored the importance of such collaborative research efforts. Supervisors from FDU and ACAP, along with other participants, offered their insights, fostering a rich exchange of knowledge and ideas.

The fellows with their completion certificates

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Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

The event, moderated by Prof. Xu Tang, concluded with remarks from Prof. Meng Fan, the Deputy Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, from Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, the Secretariat for the EANET, from Prof. Renhe Zhang, Former Vice President of Fudan University, and Dr. Wei Wan, China Program Director, Clean Air Asia. In their remarks, the speakers commended the fellows for their exceptional work and encouraged continued collaboration. The session highlighted the significant strides made through the program in building leadership in air quality management in East Asia, setting a strong foundation for future initiatives.

The Closing Session concluded with Professor Renhe Zhang, Former Vice President of Fudan University, Dean, the Institute of Atmospheric Science (IAS), FDU Director, FDU/IRDR International Center of Excellence, and WMO/IGAC MAP-AQ Asian Office in Fudan University, presenting the completion certificates to the fellows on behalf of the program organizers.

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The Fellowship for Building Leadership in Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Management in East Asia program has been approved at the Twenty-fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) on the EANET, as a Project Activity, co-funded by the EANET Project Fund, Fudan University, and Clean Air Asia.

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View the photos on Flickr.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

Assessing Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment in Southeast Asia: Second Meeting of the EANET Project

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

21 June 2024, Bangkok, Thailand

On May 29, 2024, the Secretariat for the EANET organized the project meeting “Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia” at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT-RRC.AP), as a side event to the EANET Regional Workshop in 2024, bringing together 28 participants from various countries and organizations.

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The Second Meeting of the EANET Project on Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment of Air Pollution in Southeast Asia

Following a first kick-off meeting organized in  April 2024, this second meeting of this project aimed to share updates on emissions inventories (EI) and source apportionment (SA) studies across Southeast Asia, which are crucial for understanding and managing air pollution in the region.

Representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, and international organizations including the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia;  the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology (IGCE), Russia; the French Centre Interprofessionnel Technique d’Etudes de la Pollution Atmosphérique (CITEPA); Clean Air Asia (CAA); the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Indonesia; the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (JGSEE-KMUTT); the Asia Center For Air Pollution Research (ACAP) and the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG) joined the meeting. Participants discussed the current state of EI and SA, identified challenges, and explored potential solutions for harmonizing data collection and methodology.

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Assessing Emissions Inventories and Source Apportionment Capabilities and Data in Southeast Asia

Mr. Bert Fabian, EANET Coordinator, opened the session by emphasizing the project’s significance, which seeks to compile and assess EI and SA studies to support policy formulation in Southeast Asia. Dr. R. L. Verma from RRC.AP presented a survey-based assessment of institutional capabilities in the region. His findings revealed that while most countries have designated agencies for EI, there are significant gaps in specific regulations and resources. Dr. Truong Thi Huyen from AIT presented updates on the analytical framework for assessing EI and SA development in Southeast Asian countries, highlighting key findings, compilation strategies, and the next steps with an expected timeframe.

A key takeaway from the discussions was the necessity for a harmonized approach to developing and sharing EI and SA data. Participants highlighted the role of governments in overseeing data collection and ensuring its accessibility. They also noted the importance of local emission factors and the involvement of academic institutions in developing these factors.

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Harmonizing the Emission Inventories and Source Apportionment methodologies and data collection

The meeting featured two panel discussions. The first panel focused on experiences from EANET Participating Countries, while the second addressed challenges in harmonizing EI and SA methodologies and data collection. Experts from various organizations shared insights on engaging government participation, ensuring data quality, and formulating effective policies. The project meeting underscored the critical need for regional cooperation and effective data management to tackle air pollution challenges in Southeast Asia.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Fabian thanked the participants for their active engagement and emphasized the next steps, including further collaboration and capacity building to address air pollution in Southeast Asia.

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.

Advancing Emission Inventory Management for Combustion Sources: Insights from the EANET Workshop

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 22 February 2024

The Network Center for the EANET organized a virtual Emission Inventory Workshop on Combustion Sources on December 11, 2023. The event featured expert lectures and brief participant presentations. The first session covered key topics such as the importance of emission inventory in managing atmospheric environmental issues, methodologies for estimating emissions from stationary sources and the transportation sector, and the framework of national emission inventory. Participants also shared the status and pertinent data on emissions from combustion sources in their respective countries and discussed ideas for EANET’s involvement in addressing combustion emissions. Approximately 60 participants attended the workshop.

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Exploring Emission Inventory Strategies: Insights from Expert Lectures

Dr. Toshimasa Ohara from the Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Japan delivered a lecture on the significance of emission inventories in managing atmospheric environmental issues. The presentation began with an overview of air pollution status and historical trends of emissions in East Asia. It then covered fundamental aspects of emission inventories such as estimation methodologies, types, target species, and their role in atmospheric environmental management. Additionally, examples were provided on how emission inventories are applied, including assessing the impacts of control measures and utilizing them as input data for air quality model simulations.

Dr. Jun-ichi Kurokawa, from the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, delivered two lectures. The first focused on methodologies for estimating emissions from stationary sources. It began with an introduction to the basic principles of developing emission inventories and included examples of calculating emissions from a coal-fired power plant. The lecture then detailed the actual procedures for estimating emissions, following the process flow of emission inventory development: defining scope and structure, designing methodology, collecting necessary data (e.g. activity data, emission factors, and reduction rates), and finally calculating emissions and creating final products. A case study on the evaluation of emission controls for SO2 in Japan was also presented. The second lecture covered various issues related to emission inventory, including methodologies for developing gridded emission data, evaluating uncertainties in emission inventories, and inverse modeling. Additionally, the lecture explored the interrelationships among emission inventories, monitoring, modeling, and stakeholders, including policymakers.

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Figure 1- Screenshot of some participants during the Workshop

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Dr. Didin Agustian Permadi, from the National Institute of Technology in Bandung, Indonesia, delivered a lecture on emission inventories for the transport sector, focusing on on-road mobile sources, civil aviation, and shipping. For on-road mobile sources, the lecture covered methodologies for estimating emissions from road vehicles, including both basic approaches using bulk emission factors and advanced methods accounting for running and start-up emissions. The presentation also introduced on-road transport emission models such as the International Vehicle Emission Model (IVE). Regarding civil aviation, the lecture discussed emissions from airport activities and during cruising, presenting three levels of methodologies to estimate these emissions. Procedures for estimating shipping emissions were also provided. Case studies demonstrating the calculation of emissions from airports and major harbors in Indonesia were presented to illustrate the application of these methodologies.

Dr. Jongmin Joo, from the National Air Emission Inventory and Research Center in the Republic of Korea, presented a lecture on the national official emission inventory, focusing on the National Air Pollutant Emission Inventory of the Republic of Korea. The lecture began with an introduction to the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS) of the Republic of Korea, an air pollutant emissions estimation system operating at a national level. The framework of the CAPSS system was outlined, followed by discussions on methodologies for estimating emissions from point sources, mobile sources, and area sources. The presentation included emission estimation results for 2020, as well as procedures for emissions recalculation for the years 2016 to 2019. Future plans for CAPSS were also discussed, which involve identifying previously unaccounted sources such as small and medium-sized businesses and fertilizers in farmland. Additionally, plans were presented for establishing a Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) emissions inventory and developing a health risk assessment system.

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Addressing Combustion Emissions: Participants’ perspectives

During the second session, participants exchanged information on significant combustion sources, discussing the air pollution status and control measures in their countries. They also highlighted ongoing activities related to emission inventories. In the ensuing discussions, many countries identified the continuous enhancement of national emission inventories as a challenge and expressed the desire for additional EANET projects focusing on capacity-building activities. Suggestions included not only webinars but also on-site training courses. The Network Center for the EANET, as the workshop organizer, will assess potential future activities through the EANET Project Fund.

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Find out more about the EANET Project Fund.

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Useful Resources

Download the Workshop’s presentations

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Photo credits: featured photo by Eduardo Cano Photo Co. on Unsplash, free of copyrights; other pictures: all rights reserved to EANET.

Advancing Atmospheric and Environmental Monitoring in Asia: Technical Missions Supporting EANET Countries in 2023 and 2024

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 20 February 2024

The Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), as the Network Center (NC) for the EANET, has undertaken a series of technical missions aimed at supporting EANET Participating Countries to conduct their monitoring activities, e.g. Wet and Dry Deposition of atmospheric pollutants, inland, soil & vegetation and catchment monitoring, and meteorological data. From Mongolia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Cambodia, these missions have sought to enhance environmental monitoring capabilities and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders.

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Enhancing Monitoring Infrastructures in Mongolia

In Mongolia, the technical mission took place from 12th to 19th November 2023 in Ulaanbaatar and focused on updating monitoring site information and providing advanced technical guidance on the analysis of ion chromatography results. Additionally, a new rain sensor was deployed to enhance data accuracy. Meetings with the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM), the Central Laboratory of Environment and Meteorology (CLEM), the German-Mongolia Institute for Resources and Technology (GMIT), and the National University of Mongolia took place and aimed at deepening the understanding of EANET activities, particularly in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) monitoring. Successful training sessions on VOCs monitoring, utilizing the sorbent tubes method, were conducted to reinforce local capacities.

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Technical Knowledge Exchange in Indonesia

The technical mission in Indonesia took place from 11th to 16th December 2023 in Jakarta and Bandung, in partnership with the Secretariat for the EANET. It involved collaboration with laboratories affiliated with EANET activities. Visits were made to key institutions such as the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, PSILKH Serpong, BMKG Jakarta, and BRIN Bandung, where technical guidance was provided, and feedback was collected. Discussions revolved around potential institutional arrangements to strengthen EANET implementation in Indonesia, promoting improved coordination and efficiency in environmental monitoring. During the mission, the NC representatives also met with the ASEAN Secretariat to discuss possible collaboration opportunities.

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Pictures from the technical missions in Cambodia, Mongolia, and Lao PDR (Indonesia: see cover image above).
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Strengthening Monitoring Infrastructures in Lao PDR

In Lao PDR, the technical mission took place in Vientiane, from the 11th to 15th December 2023. A visit was made to the Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute (NRERI), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE). It included a comprehensive assessment of monitoring infrastructures and procedures. Maintenance work was undertaken on monitoring equipment, including the Wet-Only sampler and Filter Pack, to ensure precise data collection. Technical guidance was shared on inspection procedures and analytical methodologies, particularly focusing on ion chromatography. Additionally, knowledge exchange through meetings and discussions on EANET activities facilitated enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.

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Sustaining Environmental Monitoring Efforts in Cambodia

The mission in Cambodia took place in Phnom Penh, from the 8th to the 12th of January 2024. It focused on sustaining continuous monitoring efforts for various pollutants. A visit was made to the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, to provide maintenance and calibration of the ozone monitor, which was installed in 2019 through the IBAQ Programme, alongside training sessions to ensure effective ozone data reporting. Technical assistance was extended for repairing sampling systems and optimizing ion chromatography procedures, thereby strengthening the country’s capacity for environmental monitoring.

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The NC for the EANET’s technical missions across Mongolia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Cambodia have aimed at enhancing environmental monitoring capabilities and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. By providing specialized technical expertise and facilitating knowledge exchange, these missions significantly contribute to assisting Participating Countries’ efforts to provide high-quality air quality monitoring data and improve technical capabilities in the Region. The NC will conduct more technical missions in 2024 to support other EANET Participating Countries.

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Find out more about the EANET monitoring sites and download EANET data.

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Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.

National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in China: Promoting Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in East Asia

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

Bangkok, 18 January 2024

The EANET National Awareness Workshop in China: Promoting Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in East Asia was held on 18 October 2023 at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and online, as a side event of the First International Conference on Chemical Weather and Chemical Climate (CWCC2023). The Workshop was co-organized by EANET and Fudan University and was joined by 50 participants.

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Opening Remarks

Mr. Zhou Jun, Director of the Asian, African, and Latin American Affairs Division of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, P.R. China, and EANET National Focal Point, delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized EANET’s two-decade journey in building a strong network and China’s commitment to its collaboration. China places high importance on EANET as a platform for expertise and knowledge-sharing and has actively supported its scope expansion. China has declared a “war” on air pollution and achieved a 57% reduction in average PM2.5 concentrations from 2013 to 2022 while doubling its GDP. Mr. Zhou Jun expressed China’s willingness to continue supporting EANET and collaborate for atmospheric environmental protection.

Prof. Xu Tang, from Fudan University, welcomed participants to the EANET side event at the First International Conference on Chemical Weather and Chemical Climate (CWCC2023). He explained the event’s focus on showcasing EANET and fostering collaboration, aligning with CWCC2023. Prof. Xu highlighted ongoing discussions about cooperation between EANET and Fudan University, particularly in capacity-building efforts.

Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET, outlined the workshop’s goals. He emphasized the connection between air pollution and climate change and the valuable opportunity for EANET to collaborate with Fudan University, which works closely with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and MAP-AQ. EANET has a strong history of monitoring acid deposition and air pollutants and providing high-quality data, and the Awareness Workshop aims to enhance interaction among researchers, scientists, and policymakers in China and beyond for the benefit of EANET Participating Countries and partners.

Some panelists and participants during the Workshop

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More than two decades of EANET

Dr. Meihua Zhu of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) discussed EANET’s evolution from the 1990s to its formal establishment in 2001, the adoption of the Instrument in 2012, and scope expansion in 2021. She highlighted EANET’s crucial role in policy development, data collection, annual Data Reports, and Periodic Reports on Acid Deposition in East Asia. Dr. Zhu also emphasized the availability of high-quality data on the EANET website. She introduced the Project Fund mechanism and its funded projects in 2023 and 2024. Dr. Zhu underscored EANET’s intergovernmental and cooperative approach in advancing shared knowledge and enhancing air quality in East and Southeast Asia.

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Acid Deposition and Air Pollution Management in China

Dr. Siyuan Liang of the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre (CNEMC), the National Center for EANET in China, presented China’s acid deposition and air quality management over recent years. In 2021, PM2.5 levels in cities at the prefecture level or above in China dropped from 46 μg/m³ in 2015 to 30 μg/m³, with significant reductions in PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO concentrations from 2013 to 2022. She highlighted 1,000 acid monitoring sites in 469 cities, including Chongqing, Lijiang, Wuzhishan, Xiamen, Xi’an, and Zhuhai sites, part of the EANET network, and highlighted the reduction in acid deposition pollution since 2005. Dr. Liang also presented the various advanced monitoring methods and big data platforms in use in China. She ended her presentation by mentioning the importance of further enhancing monitoring data for environmental management, covering various pollutants to aid decision-making.

Dr. Yangxi Chu from the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) presented China’s impressive air quality improvements over the last decade. Key achievements include stricter air pollution policies, enhanced vehicle emissions standards, clean residential heating, and joint air pollution prevention and control. Dr. Chu outlined China’s 2025 air quality goals and highlighted the role of science and technology in policymaking. He mentioned the National Joint Research Center for Air Pollution Control and its collaborative network, to recognize the main PM2.5 sources and to complete the “last mile” of scientific and technological applications to the ground. Dr. Chu showcased China’s substantial reduction in PM2.5 concentration nationwide and in Beijing, realizing air quality improvement as well as economic development.

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Discussion

Dr. Wei Wan from Clean Air Asia, China Office, discussed China’s journey toward cleaner air, emphasizing significant reductions in air pollutants from 2013 to 2021. She highlighted the successful balance between economic growth and air quality, attributed to revised air quality standards in 2012, among other policies. Dr. Syarif Romadhon from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) emphasized the importance of EANET’s collaboration and admired China’s example of economic development while reducing air pollution. Professor Gantuya Gambat from the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology expressed appreciation for EANET’s efforts for uniting scientists and policymakers in particular through the EANET Project Fund activities.

Professor Greg Carmichael, from the University of Iowa, USA, and Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of WMO-GAW, highlighted the significance of EANET from the perspectives of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW). He emphasized the importance of monitoring acid deposition in East and Southeast Asia and the collaboration between GAW and EANET. Professor Carmichael expressed gratitude for EANET’s data access and emphasized the need for relevant intercomparison models and emission projections.

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Closing Session

Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, DG at ACAP, delivered the Closing Remarks. He highlighted EANET’s two-decade experience in addressing acid deposition and improving air quality. Dr. Hatakeyama credited the collaborative efforts of the 13 Participating Countries for significant improvements in the atmospheric environment. He expressed admiration for the rapid enhancement of air quality in China and emphasized EANET’s contribution to bettering the atmospheric environment in East Asia. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to include atmospheric environmental pollutants including ozone and PM2.5, recognizing that controlling these pollutants can yield co-benefits for human health, global warming, and climate change mitigation. Dr. Hatakeyama mentioned the Project Fund mechanism, fostering collaboration beyond the Participating Countries, and expressed hope for extended cooperation.

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Useful Resources:

-Read the Panelists’ Presentations:

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Photo credits: cover photo of Pudong Century Avenue, Shanghai, China (2021) by Iewek Gnos, all other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.

EANET Seminar: Learnings on Reducing Emissions from Open Burning

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

7 September 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Seminar « Learnings on Reducing Emissions from Open Burning » in a hybrid format, in Suwon, Republic of Korea, and online, on 6 September 2022, with the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) (UNEP) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES) as co-organizers. The Seminar focused on good practices to reduce emissions from open burning and presented sustainable alternatives to improve air quality in the region. 144 participants from 17 countries from the Asian region and beyond joined the Seminar.

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Opening Session

Moderated by Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu, Associate Programme Officer – Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) (UNEP), the Seminar started with the Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the NC for the EANET, and by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Dr. Memon also co-moderated the second part of the Seminar.

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Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama and Dr. Mushtaq Memon delivered the opening remarks.

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Remarks emphasized the new role of the EANET with the expansion of its scope from acid deposition to air pollution (including PM2.5), and the technical and financial challenges leading to open burning practices in the region.

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Open Biomass Burning and Regional Challenges

Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, a Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, at Thammasat University, Thailand, presented the various causes of open burning in Thailand, with a particular focus on Northern Thailand’s situation and showed the direct impacts on air quality, the environment, and public health. In his presentation, he highlighted the challenges and needs for more government-driven incentives, policies, technical assistance, and education toward non-burning agricultural practices.

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Panelists during the Seminar. From left to right: Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu, Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Ms. Etwin Sabarini, Dr. Eric Zusman, Dr. Alison Simcox, and Ms. Azka Ghaida.

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Sharing Good Practices to Reduce Open Burning

Ms. Etwin Sabarini, Programme Coordinator, Measurable Action for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management in Southeast Asia (MAHFSA), ASEAN Secretariat introduced the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution. She explained the history, objective, and framework of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution and focused her talk on the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) initiative aiming at conserving peatlands, the largest carbon store in the ASEAN region.

Ms. Do Van Nguyet, Director at Live & Learn for Environment and Community, then shared examples of good practices from Viet Nam, including their collective action to control open burning in Hanoi. These included: policy development, monitoring, and technical assistance with a special focus on multi-stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Eric Zusman, a Senior Policy Researcher and Area Leader at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES), presented priority actions in Southeast Asia to reduce open burning, and possible solutions, while analyzing barriers to their implementation based on the example of Thailand. To deal with these barriers, he explained the polycentric system approach, where different governing authorities may organize themselves in non-hierarchical relationships, and he emphasized the need to mix solutions of alternatives to open burning.

Dr. Alison Simcox, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), shared an overview of agricultural burning and smoke management in the USA. After explaining the history of agricultural burning practices, she detailed the recent changes in practices and the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) focusing on the Smoke Management Program (SMP) and on alternatives to burning in the USA, such as no-till farming.

Dr. Ken Yamashita summarized the Seminar.

Ms. Azka Ghaida, an Air Quality and Climate Research Analyst at the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Indonesia, presented the use case of crop residue open burning in Indonesia by explaining the cause of the phenomenon, the government’s action, the barriers, and the solutions such as education and community involvement, sustainable farming and farm management practices.

Dr. Ken Yamashita who is Head of the Planning and Training Department at the Network Center for the EANET (ACAP) thanked all panelists and participants and summarized the Seminar by highlighting the key points of the challenges such as technical, financial limitations but also cultural barriers, and opportunities including mixed alternatives and operating in polycentric governance systems, to reduce open burning practices from ASEAN, Thailand, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and the USA.

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Useful Resources

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

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Photo credits: featured photo of Mù Cang Chai, Mù Cang Chai District, Yên Bái, Viet Nam (2020) by Hoach Le Dinh on Unsplash, other photos: all rights reserved to the EANET.

EANET Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using LCS

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

23 August 2022 – Niigata, Japan

The Network Center for the EANET organized the Seminar on Expanding Monitoring Systems using Low-Cost Sensor (LCS) online on 21 July 2022. It gathered representatives, experts, and practitioners of air quality monitoring from the EANET Participating Countries, and other participants from international organizations, academia, and monitoring-related service providers. 127 participants joined the Seminar.

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Opening Session

The Seminar started with the Opening and Welcome Remarks by Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in charge of the NC for the EANET, and by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action Subprogramme, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Remarks were followed by an Introductory Presentation by Mr. Taku Ohmura from the Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan (OECC) on the Overview of issues and opportunities of using LCS for air quality administrations and surveys.

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Understanding Challenges and Opportunities of LCS

Key presentations by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, a Senior Instructor of the Faculty of Public Health, at Thammasat University, Thailand, and by Dr. Alison Simcox from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), delved into the limitations and opportunities of Low-cost sensor technology (LCS) for measuring air quality in the contexts of Thailand and of the United States.

Dr. Keiichi SATO, Head of the Atmospheric Research Department at ACAP, in charge of the NC for the EANET, then introduced the results of a survey on a Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) and related technical studies in five EANET countries, namely Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

His presentation was followed by discussions and presentations by Ms. Karma Yangzom, a Principal Environment Specialist from the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on ADB’s experience with LCS as part of the Technical Assistance (TA) 9608 on “Strengthening Knowledge and Actions for Air Quality Improvement”, and by Ms. Maria-Katharina Patdu’s presentation, an Associate Programme Officer, from the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP), at UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, on air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia.

While the lack of precision of LCS and the variety of qualities and standards of sensors, may lead to data misinterpretation and presentation issues, keynote speakers and panelists mentioned that the cost-efficiency of LCS and the wide use of these air quality sensors by “citizen-scientists” educate the public and inspire behavioral changes. In addition, the effective utilization of regular monitoring data for the quality control of LCS, the importance of consistent city, regional, and country-level monitoring, and the continued cooperation with other networks and international organizations, were also key points presented to mitigate the limitations of LCS.

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Download the Workshop’s Presentations

–Issues of LCS and Efforts Against the Issues: Thailand’s Experiences (presented by Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana)

–US-EPA’s efforts on wise use of LCS (presented by Dr. Alison Simcox)

–Results of the survey on HAQMN and technical studies in some EANET Participating Countries (presented by Dr. Keiichi Sato)

–Experience in using Low-Cost Sensors under ADB TA 9608 (presented by Ms. Karma Yangzom)

–Air quality data challenges and opportunities in developing Asia (presented by Ms. Maria Katherina Patdu)

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

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Photo credits: All rights reserved to EANET.

The Twenty-First Senior Technical Managers’ Meeting (STM21)

Posted on by Aurélia Lemoine

STM21 featured image

27 August 2020 – Niigata, Japan

The Twenty-First Senior Technical Managers’ Meeting (STM21) on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) was held online on 7 August 2020. The Meeting was organized by the Network Center (NC) for the EANET in collaboration with the Secretariat for the EANET. About 40 senior technical officials involved in the EANET monitoring activities from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand, and Viet Nam participated in the meeting.

 

Acid Deposition Monitoring Activities in 2019

The objectives of this annual meeting were to exchange information on the current status of the EANET monitoring activities, including the consideration of the draft Data Report 2019 and the draft Inter-laboratory Comparison Project Report 2019, as well as to discuss the EANET’s National Monitoring Plans for 2020.

During the meeting, the NC presented the preliminary draft Data Report 2019 which contains wet deposition, dry deposition (air concentration), soil and vegetation, inland aquatic environment, and catchment-scale monitoring data, as well as a summary of the monitoring data of 2019 and related information submitted by the 13 EANET Participating Countries in 2019.

The representatives of the EANET Participating Countries, later on, presented their National Monitoring Plans and current EANET activities, including monitoring capacities, technical limitations, future plans, etc. Throughout the meeting, the senior technical officials discussed implementation challenges and shared their experiences and knowledge to foster solutions in favor of future innovation.

 

Expanded Monitoring Sites in 2020

In 2020, the number of the EANET monitoring sites has significantly increased, with a total number of 60 wet deposition monitoring sites, 47 dry deposition monitoring sites, 21 soil and vegetation monitoring sites, 19 inland aquatic environment monitoring sites, and 2 catchment-scale monitoring sites, located in 13 countries of Asia.

Most recently, China started monitoring wet and dry deposition in two newly registered EANET monitoring sites: in Wuzhishan, Hainan Province, and Lijiang, Yunnan Province. Indonesia also introduced two new EANET monitoring sites: in Jembrana, in the province of Bali, and Lombok Barat, in West Nusa Tenggara Province.

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Find out more about EANET’s monitoring activities on EANET’s website or contact us for more information on acid deposition monitoring and data.

Photo credits: Lijiang Shi, Yunnan Sheng, China, by Culacinno, free of copyright license.

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.