Bangkok, 16 May 2025

The Consultation Meeting on the Zero Draft of the Medium-Term Plan (MTP) (2026–2030) for the EANET took place virtually on 24–25 April 2025. The development of EANET’s next Medium-Term Plan for 2026-2030 is an important milestone and provides an opportunity to make EANET even more impactful and relevant in the region. The next five years of EANET’s work will also lead towards the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over 70 representatives from the Participating Countries, the Secretariat for the EANET hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and from the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) serving as the Network Center (NC) for the EANET, joined to discuss and review the Zero Draft of the MTP and provide strategic input.

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Opening Remarks

Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action, UNEP, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, opened the session by highlighting EANET’s progress in tackling acid deposition and air pollution, including its 2021 scope expansion to cover other atmospheric substances. He emphasized the network’s growing regional and global recognition, particularly through recent UN resolutions, and encouraged feedback on the Zero Draft Medium-Term Plan, reaffirming UNEP’s ongoing support.

Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Director General of the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), followed with remarks stressing the complexity of managing PM_2.5 and ozone pollution, which varies by country and requires knowledge-sharing and multilateral cooperation. He pointed to rising pollutant concentrations as evidence that national efforts alone are insufficient and welcomed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s work on Short-Lived Climate Forcers. He underlined the importance of co-benefits, nitrogen management, and strategic planning for EANET’s future, expressing optimism for meaningful discussions ahead.

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Key Discussions

The Secretariat and Network Center for the EANET presented the Zero Draft Medium-Term Plan, outlining proposed scientific, technical, and intergovernmental activities.

Key discussions focused on the Draft’s conceptual framework, existing Core and new activities, potential Project Activities, and indicative budgets. Participants, including EANET National Focal Points and Scientific Advisory Committee members, provided feedback and guidance to support the development of the First Draft MTP to be presented during the next working group meeting in June. They discussed air pollution components to prioritize, in line with the EANET’s defined scope included in the Annex to the Instrument.

They also stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring systems, exploring new and cost-efficient technologies as well as expanding capacity-building initiatives.

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Next Steps

The First Draft of the MTP (2026-2030) will be discussed at The Working Group Meeting on the Draft of the MTP (2026-2030) (WG-MTP2025), to be organized online on 10-11 June 2025. The final draft of the EANET MTP (2026-2030) will be deliberated for adoption at the 27th Intergovernmental Meeting (IG27) in November 2025.

The meeting concluded with a shared appreciation for the participants’ contributions and reaffirmed commitment to improving air quality in East Asia through collaborative action.

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Read the Report of the Session (available soon)

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Photo credits: Alocasia, aka Elephant’s Ear by Dawn McDonald (2021), all other photos: all rights reserved to EANET.