23 June 2025 – Bangkok, Thailand

EANET held its Working Group Meeting (WG-MTP2025) virtually to discuss the First Draft of its Medium-Term Plan (MTP) for (2026–2030) on 10 and 11 June 2025, gathering over 50 representatives from the EANET 13 Participating Countries, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET.

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Opening Remarks

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action, United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized the significance of the Medium-Term Plan (2026–2030) for guiding EANET’s future activities, promoting regional cooperation on air pollution, and encouraging active participation to enhance air quality and partnerships across Asia. He noted its alignment with international frameworks such as the UNEA-6 resolution on Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally. Prof. Meng Fan Deputy Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), highlighted EANET’s key role in regional air pollution monitoring since 2001, emphasized the importance of its expanded scope to address broader environmental challenges, and called for continued cooperation, technological innovation, and integration of science into policy to strengthen its impact.

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Key Discussions

The meeting’s discussions focused on the three proposed outcomes of the First Draft MTP: (1) improved understanding of air pollution and atmospheric deposition, (2) better access to evidence-based policy information, and (3) enhanced regional cooperation. Countries acknowledged the improved quality of the draft since the Consultation Meeting on the Zero Draft of the MTP (2026-2030) held in April 2025, and offered suggestions for further clarification and streamlining.

Among other topics, participants discussed how new technologies could support existing ground monitoring. The scope of activities was reviewed to ensure consistency with the EANET Instrument and its Annex and the allocated budget considered. The need for clear definitions was emphasized, with agreement that further consultations during the Working Group Meeting in 2025 (WG2025) on August 7-8 would refine these areas.

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Path Forward to the Twenty-seventh Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET

The Secretariat outlined the timeline for finalizing the MTP, including a follow-up consutation during the Working Group meeting in 2025 (WG2025) on 7 and 8 August 2025, and submission to the Twenty-fifth Scientific Advisory Committee meeting (SAC25) in October, and for consideration and possible adoption at the Twenty-seventh Intergovernmental Meeting (IG27) on the EANET in November 2025.

The IG27 will be hosted by Thailand on 27-28 November, and will be held in Bangkok during the same week as UNEP’s Clean Air Week from 24 to 28 November 2025, further highlighting regional efforts to improve air quality.

As EANET moves toward its next five-year phase, the meeting reaffirmed the Network’s crucial role in driving cooperation, scientific exchange, and informed policy action across East Asia.

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Read the Meeting Report.

Photo credits: flamboyant blossom bloom red by Rakib Hosain (2020); all other photos: all rights reserved to the EANET.