Speakers
• Ms. Keiko Yoshikawa, Director, Environmental Management Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Japan
• Ms. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director and Representative, UNEP Asia Pacific Office
• Mr. Sangmin Nam, Director, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP
• Overarching presentation by Mr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action, UNEP Asia Pacific Office

Photo Session

Break

Session description:The Asia Pacific region continues to face significant air pollution challenges. Cost-effective solutions to address air pollution exist and have been identified to address the major sources of air pollution. Much headway has been achieved in Asia Pacific, but despite some progress, challenges remain. Looking ahead, continued strong and transformative action is needed and regional cooperation will be vital to help address these challenges.

Part 1 of this session aims to highlight successes in reducing air pollution or improving air quality management through regional cooperation mechanisms and identify existing gaps and challenges to address air pollution that could potentially be supported through regional cooperation. It will also help increase understanding of emerging developments that may affect clean air action in the coming years and launch the Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP)’s Online Coordination Platform.

Moderator:
• Ms. Kaye Patdu, Associate Programme Officer – APCAP, UNEP Asia Pacific Office

Part 1: Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-based Solutions – Achievement, Remaining Challenges and Future Perspective
• Presentation: UNEP’s strategy to improve air quality by Ms. Soraya Smaoun, Air Quality Coordinator, Industry and Economy Division, UNEP (recording)
• Launch of RAPAP Online Coordination Platform by Mr. Anshuman Varma, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCAP

Speakers
• Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon, Specialised Expert on Air Quality and Noise Management, Pollution Control Department, Thailand
• Mr. Raksmey Yim, Deputy Director, Department of Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Management, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
• Ms. Bounmany Soulideth, Deputy Head of Modelling Division, Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR
• Dr. Toshihiko Takemura, Distinguished Professor, Kyushu University
• Ms. Dang Espita-Casanova, Associate Program Director, Clean Air Asia

Break

Session description: The second part of the discussion will focus on (a) recognizing emerging developments and trends that may affect the work to improve air quality; (b) discussing key interventions that need to be scaled up in the next five years; (c) providing insights into the future work of the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership; and (d) launching the UNEP and CCAC ASEAN Clean Air Solutions Report.

Moderator:
• Mr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action, UNEP Asia Pacific Office

Part 2: On the horizon – APCAP five years from now
• Presentation: Key elements of APCAP Phase 3 by Ms. Kaye Patdu, Associate Programme Officer – APCAP, UNEP Asia Pacific Office
• Launch of the ASEAN Clean Air Solutions Report | Presentation by Ms. Kaoru Akahoshi, Research Manager and Mr. Eric Zusman, Research Director, Institute Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Speakers
• Mr. Yu Kamei, Director for International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Japan
• Ms. Hanna Yang, Director of Air Quality Policy Division, Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, (online)
• Ms. Jungmin Park, Chair of the Thematic Working Group on Air Quality, National Institute of Environment Research (NIER)
• Dr. Zbigniew Klimont, Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar, IIASA
• Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Director General, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP)
• Mr. Josselyn Mothe, Technical Officer, Air Quality and Health, WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region (online)

Lunch break
*Brief introduction on Pacifico Yokohama’s efforts on environmental protection*

Session description: Despite the significant economic and health impacts of air pollution, funding for clean air initiatives remains disproportionately low compared to the scale of the challenge. This track brings together investors, founders, and ecosystem enablers to explore investment opportunities, discuss innovative financing mechanisms, and showcase successful business models in the clean-air space.

Through fireside chats and panel discussions, the track will examine both traditional and innovative financing approaches, from venture capital to blended finance models. It will highlight the growing intersection of air quality and climate tech investments while exploring how different stakeholders can collaborate to accelerate the deployment of clean air solutions across the region.

Moderator:
• Mr. Shailesh Vickram Singh, Founder and Director, Massive Earth Foundation

Fireside Chat: Climate-Tech Investment Landscape in Asia: Focus on Clean Air Solutions
• Mr. Takeshi Ebihara, Founding Partner, Rebright Partners (online)
• Mr. Kohei Muto, CEO & Founding Partner, Double Feather Partners

Panel Discussion: Accelerating Clean Air Innovation: Ecosystem Support and Financing Mechanisms

Panelists
• Mr. Daiki Kumamoto, Director at UntroD Capital Asia Pte Ltd
• Ms. Momoka Ueda, Strategic Partnerships at Digital Garage, Ex JETRO
• Ms. Mayumi Wakebe, Partner, Shizen Capital
• Mr. Yuta Shimohara, Associate, IncubateFund

There will be short, recorded videos from top climate-tech startups across the Asia-Pacific region, selected from the LowCarbon.Earth Accelerator Programme developing innovative solutions to combat air pollution.

Break

Session description: Promising action and innovative solutions are on the rise to improve air quality. This thematic discussion aims to explore sector-specific and technology-driven solutions that can advance clean air initiatives while delivering multi-benefits for climate mitigation, economic development, and public health. It will also discuss barriers and opportunities in implementing technology-driven solutions for air pollution detection and mitigation. There are also advancements in remote sensing, AI-driven analytics, and IoT-based sensor networks which present an opportunity to enhance policy effectiveness of sector interventions. The insights gained from this thematic discussion will help inform the Roadmap of APCAP for its third phase.

Moderator:
• Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Associate Professor, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

Setting the scene:
• High-impact sectors in Asia Pacific and key emissions reduction interventions, Dr. Zbigniew Klimont, Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
• Advancements in air quality monitoring and application in air quality management, Dr. Hiroshi Tanimoto, Deputy Director, Earth System Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)

Panel Discussion: Technology and innovative solutions to improve air quality
• Dr. Zbigniew Klimont, Research Group Leader and Principal Research Scholar, IIASA
• Dr. Patrick Bueker, GIZ SEACAI (Southeast Asia Clean Air Initiative)
• Dr. Sachiko Hayashida, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) and Nara Women’s University (NWU)
• Dr. Hiroshi Tanimoto, Deputy Director, Earth System Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)
• Ms. Bidya Banmali Pradhan, Senior Atmospheric Environment Specialist, ICIMOD (online)
• Ms. Vanisa Surapipith, Head, Air Pollution Cluster, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific

• Mr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action, UNEP Asia Pacific Office

• Greeting with toast by Ms. Keiko Yoshikawa, Director of Environment Management Division, Environmental Management Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Japan (MoEJ)

Session description: Inadequate funding for air quality management is one of the key challenges identified in UNEP Actions on Air Quality Report. With many sustainable development and climate targets off-track and under-funded, there is an increasing effort to focus resources on synergistic actions, such as clean air solutions that bring multiple co-benefits. Addressing this financing gap, the dialogue will highlight strategies to scale up investments in clean technology, specifically for providing clean air solutions/interventions in Asia Pacific. In addition to the roundtable discussions, the South Asia Finance Facility, set up by UNEP under the EmPower programme (which is a joint programme between UNEP and UN Women and funded by Government of Germany, Government of New Zealand, Government of Sweden and Government of Switzerland) will be announced.

Launch of the South Asia Finance Facility: “SAFFAL -Climate Tech for Women”
• Mr. Shailesh Vickram Singh, Founder and Director, Massive Earth Foundation
• Ms. Parimita Mohanty, Programme Management Officer, UNEP

Moderator:
• Ms. Kaye Patdu, Associate Programme Officer – APCAP, UNEP Asia Pacific Office

Panelists
• Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon, Specialised Expert on Air Quality and Noise Management, Pollution Control Department, Thailand
• Ms. Parimita Mohanty, Programme Management Officer, UNEP
• Mr. Tatsuya Yanase, Environment and Climate Change Specialist, CCSD, Asian Development Bank
• Mr. Daniel Mira Salama, Lead Environmental Specialist, The World Bank
• Dr. Patrick Bueker, GIZ Planning Specialist and GIZ SEACAI (Southeast Asia Clean Air Initiative)
• Mr. Shailesh Vickram Singh, Founder and Director, Massive Earth Foundation
• Dr. Hiroaki Takiguchi, Senior Advisor (Environmental Management), Global Environment Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Mr. Xin Liu, Program Director, Environmental Management, Energy Foundation (online)

Break

Session description: Air pollution has been identified as a ‘synergy solution’ by a recent UN report that calls for leveraging ‘win-win’ and ‘mutually reinforcing’ synergies between climate change and the SDGs to bridge investment gaps. The interlinkages between air pollution and climate change provide an opportunity to amplify the benefits of our actions and catalyze even greater mitigation ambition. This is an opportunity to unlock climate finance through the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) with solutions that benefit both air quality and climate considering the integrated nature of air pollution and climate.

Moderator:
• Dr. Ken Yamashita, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP)

Key Presentations
• Dr. Amarbayar Adiyabat, National University of Mongolia School of Engineering and Technology

Session Overview Presentation
• Ms. Yumi Yasuda, Deputy Director, Environmental Management Bureau, MOE Japan

Introduction of priorities and needs on air quality and climate action
• Ms. Nikita Roy, Director, Environment & Climate Action Group, National Productivity Council, India
• Ms. Warnika Ranawaka Arachchi, Director (Air Quality Monitoring), Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka
• Ms. Truong Thi Lan, Senior Staff, Centre for Environmental technology and Pollution control data (CECT), Pollution Control Department Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam
• Mr. Marhasak Denny Tarluga Silaban, Head of Air Quality Planning and Management Division, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia

Introduction of proposals for project seeds
• Mr. Yim Raksmey, Deputy Director Department of Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Management, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
• Mr. Ganbaatar Enkhtuvshin, Director of Strategy and Planning Division, Ministry of Energy, Mongolia
• Dr. Sachiko Hayashida, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) and Nara Women’s University (NWU)
• Ms. Aziza Sharofova, Chief Specialist Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Republic of Uzbekistan (online)
• Mr. Peter Margetts, Advisor to the Mayor of Karshi City, Uzbekistan

*Business and Partnership Speed Matching*
It is an opportunity for private sector, investors, and development partners to meet with country representatives in a short amount of time to establish potential business or partnership connections.

Visit to the Toyosu Smart Energy Center and the Gas Science Museum

From Asia to Africa “Introduction of “African Clean Air Programme (ACAP)”