6 March 2025 – Bangkok, Thailand

The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop “Understanding Air Pollution and Its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Malaysia,” took place on 26 November 2024 at the Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia. Over 65 participants (in-person and online) gathered to discuss air quality management in Malaysia. The audience included academics, researchers, professors, and representatives from various government agencies focused on environmental conservation and sustainable development.

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Promoting EANET Activities and Environmental Initiatives

Co-hosted by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the workshop aimed to understand Malaysia’s specific air quality and environmental challenges, support the implementation of related projects in collaboration with the EANET, and foster the development of new initiatives to combat air pollution and acid deposition. These efforts align with EANET’s the broader goal of addressing acid deposition and air pollution more effectively.

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Opening Remarks: Malaysia’s Commitment to Air Quality

The workshop was inaugurated with Ms. Roslinda Binti Ulang, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Malaysia, and Malaysia’s National Focal Point for EANET, delivering the Opening Remarks. She welcomed participants and reflected on Malaysia’s 28 years of active participation in EANET. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to tackling air pollution and acid deposition, underscoring its dedication to environmental sustainability.

Following this, Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET, introduced EANET’s expanded scope, which includes broader air quality monitoring activities. He provided insights into EANET’s organizational structure, data-sharing protocols, and funding mechanisms while setting the stage for the expert presentations.

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Expert Presentations on Air Quality Management

The Awareness Workshop brought together experts who shared insights on air quality management in Malaysia and in the wider region.

Prof. Meng Fan, Deputy Director General of the Network Center for the EANET at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research, provided a regional perspective on environmental challenges and collaborative solutions in his presentation on “Air Quality and Acid Deposition in EANET.” Ms. Norazlinda Ismail, Principal Assistant Director at the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia, highlighted national strategies and initiatives in air quality management. Prof. Dr. Mohd Talib Latif, Chairman of the Department of Earth Sciences and Environment at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the President of Malaysian Association for Aerosols and Air Quality Research (MAAQR), explored the complex interplay between pollution sources, weather, and climate in shaping Malaysia’s air quality. Dr. Ahmad Fairudz Jamaluddin, Director of the Atmospheric Science and Cloud Seeding Division at the Malaysian Meteorological Department, discussed key monitoring practices and trends related to acid deposition, global greenhouse gases, and the background aerosol monitoring network in Malaysia. Additionally, Dr. Noor Zaitun Yahaya, President of the Clean Air Forum Society of Malaysia (MyCAS) and Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, introduced innovative AI-based methods for acid deposition analysis in Malaysia.

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Advancing Knowledge and Collaboration for Cleaner Air

The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Malaysia served as an important platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, the event fostered discussions on actionable strategies to improve air quality management. The insights shared during the workshop contribute to ongoing efforts in environmental sustainability and air pollution mitigation in Malaysia and beyond.

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Malaysia currently serves as the Chair of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG) on the EANET since November 2024, until a new Chair is elected in November 2025. Find out more about the next EANET events in 2025.

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Useful Resources

Download the panelists’ presentations:

• Air Quality and Acid Deposition in EANET by Prof. Meng Fan
• Air Quality Management in Malaysia by Ms. Norazlinda Ismail
• Understanding the Sources of Air Pollution and the Influence of Weather and Climate on Malaysia’s Air Quality by Prof. Mohd Talib Latif
• Acid Deposition, Global Greenhouse Gases, and Background Aerosol Monitoring Network in Malaysia by Dr. Ahmad Fairudz Jamaluddin
• Novel Method with AI Technique for Malaysia Acid Deposition Analysis by Dr. Noor Zaitun Yahaya

Photo credits: all rights reserved to EANET.