Opening Remarks
• Ms. Dechen Tsering, UNEP Director and Representative for Asia and the Pacific

Welcome Remarks
• Mr. Dong Yeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea

Message on Raising ambition for regional cooperation on clean air
• Mr. Sangmin Nam, Director, Environment and Development Division, UNESCAP

Keynote Speeches
• H.E. Mr. Tuvdendorj Gantumur, Vice Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia
• Mr. Hyunkwon Kim, Director of Gyeonggi Environmental Energy Agency

National Statement
• H.E. Dr. Abdulla Naseer, Minister of State, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives

Moderator
• Ms. Antoinette Taus, UNEP National Goodwill Ambassador for the Philippines

Lecture presentation
• Mr. Ali Akeem, Head, World Health Organization (WHO) Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region
• Mr. Wonho Yang, President of Korean Society of Environmental Health

Panel discussion
• Ms. Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition
• Ms. Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of External Affairs, Green Climate Fund
• Mr. Tappei Tsutsumi, Director, Office of International Cooperation in Air and Water Quality Management, Ministry of Environment, Japan
• Ms. Siwaporn Rungsiyanon, Director of Transboundary Air Pollution Subdivision, Pollution Control Department, Thailand
• Mr. Frank Hammes, CEO, IQAir
• Mr. Sungchul Seo, Professor, Seokyeong University

Session description: Polluted air is creating a health emergency. Air pollution remains as one of the world’s largest environmental threats to human health. There is an urgent need to increase investment in and implement evidence-based policies which support clean energy and industry, sustainable mobility, better municipal waste management and sustainable agricultural practices. These efforts will reduce air pollution, support climate action, and help achieve other development goals.

Strengthened international cooperation and collective action is also critical to turn the tide on air pollution. At a global level, there is no international legal framework on air quality. But there is growing recognition of the important role of international and regional cooperation to address air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO)’s air quality guidelines provide the primary evidence-based global guidance on air quality. In 2021, WHO released updated health-based guidelines, tightening the guidelines for air pollutants based on the evidence of health impacts at even lower concentrations than previously known.

This session will provide an overview of the 2021 air quality guidelines by the World Health Organization and what it means for Asia and the Pacific. It will feature practical and effective multisectoral clean air solutions to improve air quality, protect people’s health, contribute to a stable climate, and help achieve the sustainable development agenda. It will build understanding on the importance of collective action to accelerate clean air efforts. It will reflect on the opportunities and identify the elements that should be considered to strengthen regional collaboration efforts to help address air pollution in Asia and the Pacific.

Moderator
• Professor Ki Joon Jeon, Inha University

Presentation: Beating air pollution in SIG through evidence-based approaches
• Mr. Chris Malley, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
• Ms. Eleni Michalopoulou, Research Associate, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

Presentation: Clean Air Catalyst – Experience in Jakarta and Indore
• Mr. Muhammad Shidiq, Air Quality Lead, World Resources Institute

Panel discussion: Clean Air solutions (governance, technical, and finance) to reduce urban air pollution and protect people’s health
• Mr. Dong Young Kim, Senior Researcher, Gyeonggi Research Institute
• Mr. Kyeong Doo Cho, Senior Research Fellow, The Incheon Institute
• Ms. Yoojin Choi, Senior Researcher, Seoul Institute
• Mr. Alberto Kimpo, Assistant City Administrator for Operations, Quezon City Government

Session description: Cities are responsible for more than 70 per cent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Unplanned, and unmanaged urbanization, a rising demand for resources, energy, and motorized transport contribute to biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate crisis. The impacts of environmental challenges are most felt in cities. Air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks in cities.

This session will highlight governance, technical, and finance solutions by city and provinces to reduce air pollution and protect people’s health. It aims to offer a platform for cities and subnational agencies to share experiences and identify common challenges and opportunities to further strengthen action. The event will also share updates on the ongoing collaboration between UNEP and Republic of Korea’s Capital Metropolitan Region of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi to combat air pollution through evidence-based solutions.

Moderator
• Mr. Young Sunwoo, APCAP Science Panel Member, Director General, International Union of Air Pollution Prevention Associations

Framing Presentation
• Ms. Eloise Scotford, Professor of Environmental Law, University College London

Message
• Mr. David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment

Panel discussion
• H.E. Dr. Abdulla Naseer, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, Maldives
• Mr. Chandath Him, Deputy Director of Air quality, Noise and Vibration Management Department, Ministry of Environment Cambodia
• Mr. Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, India
• Ms. Glynda Bathan Baterina, Deputy Executive Director, Clean Air Asia
• Ms. Gina Bonifacino, Manager of Air Planning Section, US Environmental Protection Agency

Session description: The Asia and the Pacific region is at the epicenter of a public health crisis from air pollution. Fortunately, many countries have taken steps to reduce air pollution. Based on UNEP’s Actions on Air Quality: A Global Summary of Policies and Programmes to Reduce Air Pollution, a considerable number of countries in Asia and the Pacific are in the process of reviewing or updating their air quality legislation or have recently adopted new air quality and related plans and policies. While a positive development, this must be accompanied by supporting mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.

This session will introduce the components of a robust air quality governance system and facilitate sharing of recent developments by countries on their air quality legislation. It will identify the challenges faced in implementing their legislation and explore opportunities to strengthen their implementation and enforcement to improve air quality.

Moderator
• Mr. Young-Woo Park, Outside Director of Kumho Petrochemical Co. in Seoul, Republic of Korea

Framing Presentation
• Ms. Ann Jeannette Glauber, Practice Manager – Environment and Natural Resources and Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
• Mr. Johan C.I. Kuylenstierna, Research Leader, SEI
• Mr. Sean Maguire, Strategic Partnerships & Communications Director, Clean Air Fund

Panel discussion
• H.E. Mr. Tuvdendorj Gantumur, Vice Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mongolia
• Ms. Huda Ali Shareef, Deputy Ambassador & Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Embassy of Maldives to Thailand
• Ms. Karma Yangzom, Principal Environment Specialist, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, ADB
• Mr. Shailesh Vickram Singh, Founder, Massive Mobility
• Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)

Session description: Air pollution takes a heavy toll on the region’s economy – which is still recovering from the pandemic. Financing is a critical element in air quality management and will be necessary to shift the needle on air pollution. Inadequate funding for air quality management is one of the key challenges identified in UNEP Actions on Air Quality Report.

This session will discuss the financing needs to address air pollution and reflect on opportunities to bring the level of finance for air quality from various sources to match the scale of the issue in the region. It will also feature private sector representatives that are investing on solutions that will contribute to reducing emissions from specific sectors.

Background
One of the key sources of particulate pollution in Southeast Asia is the open burning of biomass. The solution to this problem in air pollution modeling research is broadly labeled bans on burning; however, this solution is difficult to enforce and may cause further disadvantages for the poorest farmers. There is sufficient evidence that alternatives to bans, including using crop residues for mulch and fertilizer or growing high-yield crops such as mushrooms, may offer a more sustainable solution.

Through the Seminar, policymakers and practitioners can share their experiences with sustainable solutions and determine how national governments can enable the spread and replication of open burning. The various viewpoints on the problem will be reviewed and considered because the problem occurred by open burning should be approached not only by national governments but also by various stake holders following this Seminar. In addition, the EANET seeks ways to assess the open burning problem related to the ASEAN activities.

This event is organized by the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP), the Network Center for EANET and is co-organized by Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) (UNEP) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategy (IGES).

Registration
Registration for this event (for both online and in-person participants): https://www.eanet.asia/eanet-seminar-learning-reducing-emission-open-burning-registration/

Contacts
Network Center for EANET – Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) at eanet@acap.asia

Background
This event will launch the first phase of the Asia Clean Blue Sky Program (ACBSP). The overall goal of the ACBSP is to scale up the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s investments in improving air quality.

Video Message
• Ms. Rosamund Kissi-Debrah, Founder and Executive Director, Ella Roberta Family Foundation

Key Messages and Way Forward
• Ms. Huda Ali Shareef, Deputy Ambassador & Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Embassy of Maldives to Thailand
• Mr. Youngrok Seo, Professor, Dongguk University
• Mr. DaeGeun Park, Director of the Fine Dust Countermeasure Division, Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Closing remarks
• Mr. Jinseop Eom, Director General for Environment, Gyeonggi Provincial Government
• Mr. Mushtaq Memon, Asia Pacific Coordinator for Pollution and Chemicals Action, UNEP