2018 Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum
“Solutions Landscape for Clean Air”

In November 2015, the inaugural Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum was organized in response to the 2014 UN Environment Assembly resolution on air quality that called for immediate and coordinated action to address air pollution and its impacts. The meeting was an opportunity to enhance synergies among various air pollution initiatives in the region and promoted science-policy dialogue, especially in support of the UN Environment Assembly and World Health Assembly resolutions on air quality.

In December 2017, the Third Session of the UN Environment Assembly was held in Nairobi, Kenya on the theme ‘towards a pollution-free planet’ that brought high-level government representatives, private sector leaders and civil society to discuss ways to address some of the most pervasive forms of pollution, including air pollution. This led to a new resolution to prevent and reduce air pollution. The resolution also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation to advance action on air pollution.

Building on the momentum of the region’s response to implement the UN Environment Assembly Resolutions on Air Quality and as a follow-up to the 2015 Joint Forum, the 2018 Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum will:

  • discuss and share the latest science, evidence and impacts of air pollution;
  • share and exchange practical and innovative solutions at national and local levels, featuring policy, finance, and technology;
  • report on progress on air quality actions region arising from the 2014 UN Environment Assembly resolution and discussions at the 2015 Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum; and
  • develop a plan for the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum to implement the UN Environment Assembly resolutions on air quality in the region.

The Joint Forum is organized as part of a week-long programme from the 19th to 23rd March 2018 under the theme ‘Solutions Landscape for Clean Air’. This forum is a collaborative effort of partners working in the region to improve air quality.

About the Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership

The Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership aims to promote better air quality management in Asia Pacific and thereby reduce air pollution and associated health impacts including premature mortality, improve agricultural productivity, and contribute to other co-benefits such as conservation of biodiversity and climate change. The voluntary partnership was launched by UN Environment and partners in 2015 as a response to the call for action on air quality at the First Session of the UN Environment Assembly in 2014 (Resolution 1/7 on Air Quality) and 2017 (Resolution on Preventing and Reducing Air pollution to Improve Air Quality Globally) and to help achieve the relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact Information

For any inquires, please contact Ms. Kaye Patdu or Ms. Suwimol Wattanawiroon at apcap@un.org.


Programme

Day 1: Wednesday, 21 March 2018 | UN Conference Centre, Conference Room 2

Session 1. Opening of the 2018 Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership Joint Forum

08.00 – 09.00

Registration

09.00 – 10.00

Welcome Remarks

  • Mr. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment (Video Message)
  • H.E. General Surasak Kanchanarat, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand
  • Ms. Dechen Tsering, Director and Representative, UN Environment Asia Pacific Office

Inaugural Address

  • Ms. Karin Hulshof, Regional Director, UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific
  • Mr. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO, Paytm and UN Environment Patron for Clean Air

Keynote Address

  • H.E. Mr. Yasuo Takahashi, Vice Minister for Global Environmental Efforts, Japan
10.00 – 10.30

Coffee Break

Session 2. Solutions for Clean Air

10.30 – 12.30

Panel Discussion: Practical Solutions for Quick Results and Multiple Benefits

The panel discussion will identify readily available and practical solutions, best practices, policies and lessons learned from efforts by different stakeholders on air pollution reduction in the region. The discussion aims to increase understanding of the multiple benefits of reducing air pollution including short-lived climate pollutants for the sustainable development, climate change, and economic growth, and how partnerships have effectively created conditions for cross-sectoral reductions in air pollution.


Invited Panelists:

Science-based solutions for clean air

  • Air Pollution Solutions Report: Prof. Frank Murray, Murdoch University, Air Pollution Solutions Report Co-Chair
  • Supporting National Action and Planning on short-lived climate pollutants: Mr. Alan Silayan, Program Director, Clean Air Asia

Sector-specific solutions

  • Agriculture: Dr. Harjeet Singh Dhaliwal, Director, Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute
  • Bricks: Mrs. Bidya Banmali Pradhan, Coordinator, Clean Bricks Initiative, ICIMOD
  • Diesel: Mr. Bert Fabian, Programme Officer, UN Environment
  • Industry: Mr. Andreas Köck, Managing Director, Scheuch Asia Ltd.
  • Child Health and energy efficiency: Mr. Alex Heikens, UNICEF Representative to Mongolia
  • Waste: Mr. Iyngararasan Mylvakanam, Programme Officer, International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC), UN Environment

Facilitator: Mr. Rico Hizon, BBC World News

12.30 – 14.30

Lunch | Venue: Reception Hall

Session 3. Combating air pollution – Policy perspectives on solutions

14.30 – 16.00

Ministerial Dialogue on Solutions Landscape for Clean Air

The Ministers and senior government representatives will discuss innovative policies to promote partnerships, financing, and technology towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and UN Environment Assembly Resolutions on Air Quality.


Invited Panelists:

  • H.E. Mr. Mushahid Ullah Khan, Federal Minister for Climate Change, Pakistan
  • H.E. Mr. Yasuo Takahashi, Vice Minister of Environment, Japan
  • H.E. Mrs. Bounkham Vorachit, Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR
  • H.E. Dr. Sabo Ojano, Secretary of State of Ministry of Environment Cambodia
  • H.E. Mr. Juan Miguel Cuna, Undersecretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines
  • H.E. Mr. Ghulam Mohd Malikyar, Deputy Director-General, National Environmental Protection Agency, Afghanistan
  • H.E. Mr. Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bangladesh
  • H.E. Mr. Anuradha Jayarathne, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment
  • Mr. Prakash Mathema, Secretary of Ministry of Population and Environment, Nepal
  • Mr. Chencho Norbu, Secretary, National Environment Commission, Bhutan
  • Mrs. Munkhtsetseg Gompildoo, Member of Parliament, Mongolia

Facilitator: Mr. Rico Hizon, BBC World News

16.00 – 16.15

Coffee Break

Session 4. Inspiring action by local government and citizens for clean air

16.15 – 18.00

City Leaders’ Panel: Clean Air for Cities

During this session, leading cities from the Asia Pacific region will share their initiatives and solutions in improving urban air quality in their cities. They will identify support needed from different stakeholders to accelerate action at the city level. The session will also highlight outcomes from the 9th World Urban Forum, which discussed implementation of the New Urban Agenda, and how clean air solutions can support in achieving the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.


Invited Panelists:

City leaders on actions taken to improve urban air quality

  • Ms Termsiri Chongpoonphol, Director of Air Quality and Noise Management Division, Department of Environment, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
  • Mr. Zhou Yangsheng, Deputy Director General, Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau
  • Ms. Lu Jie, Senior Staff, Jinan City Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone Environmental Protection Bureau
  • Dr. Joseph Runzo-Inada, Chief Resilience Officer, Toyama City
  • Mr. Makoto Mihara, Manager for International Cooperation, Environmental Policy Department, Environment Bureau, Osaka City Government
  • Ms. Mary Jane Ortega, Mayor of the City of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines (1998-2007)
  • Dr. Tsatsral Batmunkh, Head, Air Pollution Reduction Agency, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Experience from African region

  • Mr. Said Abdella Ousman, Addis EPA Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Interventions by City Associations

  • Mr. Ashish Rao Ghorpade, Deputy Director, ICLEI South Asia
  • Ms. Milag San Jose-Ballesteros, Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania
  • Dr. Aisa Tobing, Deputy Secretary General of CityNet; Head of Governance Commission of Jakarta Research Council

Facilitator: Mr. Rico Hizon, BBC World News

18.00

Welcome Reception

Day 2: Thursday, 22 March 2018 | UN Conference Centre, Conference Room 2

Session 5. Innovating financing, technology and regulatory frameworks for improving air quality

09.00 – 10.30

Panel Discussion: Innovating financing, technology and regulatory frameworks for improving air quality

This session will provide a platform to present and discuss technology, regulatory frameworks, and financing instruments needed to drive public and private investment to achieve clean air. Panelists will innovative solutions on utilizing public and private investment, international climate finance, and support from development banks to support projects and investments to improve air quality.


Invited Panelists:

Financing institutions and public sector

  • Mr. Daniele Ponzi, Chief, Environment Thematic Group Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, Asian Development Bank
  • Mr. Satya Tripathi, Executive Secretary, Tropical Landscape Finance Facility

Private sector

  • Mr. Shailesh Vickram Singh, Massive Fund, India
  • Ms. Cathleen Maleenont, Ed. D., CEO, Thai Solar Energy Public Company
  • Mr. Mark Lin, Head of International Operations, Mobike
  • Mr. Vivek Gilani, Managing Director, C-Balance, India
  • Mr. Hideo Tsurumaki, Chief Executive Officer, First One Mile Mobility, Japan
  • Mr. Sean Wihera, Director of Business Development – Clarity Movement Co., USA

Intergovernmental organizations

  • Ms. Cristina Martinez, Senior Specialist, Environment and Decent Work, International Labour Organization

Facilitator: Mr. Rico Hizon, BBC World News

10.30 – 10.45

Coffee Break

Session 6. Empowering consumers and citizens into advocates – mobilizing citizen action

10.45 – 12.30

Empowering consumers and citizens into advocates – mobilizing citizen action

This session will introduce the Breathelife campaign and aim to inspire participants on individual and collective actions that they can do to improve air quality. The session will also showcase the interventions undertaken by various groups including existing Breathelife network members, youth and women’s groups, civil society, to reduce air pollution. This will include signing of the Breathelife wall.


Keynote remarks

Ms. Dia Mirza, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India


Introduction to BreatheLife Campaign, Ms. Lesley Onyon, Regional Advisor, Occupational and Environmental Health, WHO Regional Office for SouthEast Asia


Remarks by Breathelife Member – Asia | Ms. Ariuntuya Dorjsuren, Director General of Climate Change and International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia


Invited Panelists:

Financing institutions and public sector

  • Civil Society/Women: Ms. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment
  • Environmental Education: Mr. Alex Rendell, Actor, Conservationist
  • Youth: Ms. Sitta Marattanachai, Policy Analyst at the House of Representatives Thailand (U-Report Thailand Representative)
  • Youth/Media: Ms. Walaiporn Phumirat, Farmer and Member of Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) Audience Council (UReport Thailand Representative)
  • Business: Mr. Hassam Ud Din, CEO RASAI, Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyle Challenge Winner – Mobility
  • Health/Academia: Professor Yun-Chul Hong, Co-Chair, Thematic Working Group on Air Quality and Health of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Health and Environment

Facilitator: Ms. Dia Mirza, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for India

12.30 – 14.00

Lunch | Venue: Reception Hall


Side Event: Advancing Air Quality Monitoring with Emerging Technologies (by invitation) | Venue: Public Foyer

Session 7. Working together against air pollution – Partnerships and cooperation

14.00 – 16.00

Panel Discussion: Action by Regional Networks and Organizations to Improve Air Quality in Asia Pacific

This panel discussion seeks to discuss how networks and initiatives can help promote innovative solutions and support upscaling of their implementation. The panelists will share their views and experience to help achieve the UN Environment Assembly Resolution on Air Quality at regional, sub-regional, national, and local levels. They will explore the challenges and opportunities, collective actions and impacts of partnerships and cooperative engagements.


Intergovernmental networks

  • Dr. Batbayar Jadamba, Vice Chair of Intergovernmental Meeting of the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET)
  • Dr. Muhammad Khurshid, Director General, South Asia Co-Operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
  • Ms. Carolin Sanz Noriega, Secretariat of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
  • Professor Alexander Baklanov, Scientific Officer, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Deputy Director of Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP), Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand Male’ Declaration Secretariat
  • Professor Yun-Chul Hong, Co-Chair, Thematic Working Group on Air Quality and Health of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum on Health and Environment

Regional organizations/ networks

  • Mr. Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director, Clean Air Asia
  • Professor Katsunori Suzuki, Co-Chair, Asia Co-Benefits Partnership
  • Mr. Hideyuki Mori, President IGES, Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network
  • Ms. Aarti Khosla, Communications Advisor, Air Quality Asia

Facilitator: Ms. Helena Molin-Valdes, Head of Secretariat, Climate and Clean Air Coalition

16.00 – 16.15

Coffee Break

Session 8. Closing of the Meeting

16.15 – 17.30
  • Overview of key messages from the meeting – Reflection by session representatives
  • Closing Remarks

Facilitator: Ms. Dechen Tsering, Director and Representative, UN Environment Asia Pacific Office