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Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research

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Project final report: CBA2020-01MY-Verma

Air quality in many Asian countries is deteriorating due to increasing emissions of air pollutants. Most countries are lacking technical capabilities to manage the air quality. It is needed to build capacities of the Asian countries on air quality management (AQM). The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) under its Capacity Development Programme (CAPaBLE) provided financial support for the project “Capacity Development Programme on Air Quality Management and Emission Reduction of PM2.5 for ASEAN Countries” for organizing 2 capacity building workshops on AQM for the ASEAN member countries. Due to the COVID-19, the first workshop “Capacity Development Programme on Air Quality Management and Emission Reduction of PM2.5 for Asian Countries” was organized online during 13-17 September 2021. Since the workshop was organized online participants from all countries were invited. A total of 310 participants, including policymakers, air quality managers, technical staff, air quality professionals, academicians, and young researchers from 30 countries registered for the workshop and about 150-200 participants from 29 countries have participated in the 5-day workshop. The proceedings of the workshop were divided into 5 Modules (Air Quality Monitoring, Emission Inventory Development, Air Quality Modeling, Impact Assessment, and Policy Measures for Air Pollution Mitigation). A total of 18 lectures were delivered by well-known resource persons. A “Certificate of Participation” was issued to participants. The majority of participants rated “5” (1-10 scale) regarding their knowledge and understanding on all aspects of AQM before the workshop. Their knowledge and understanding of was increased to “8” after the workshop. The second workshop “Capacity Development Programme on Air Quality Management and Emission Reduction of PM2.5 for Member Countries of ASEAN Haze Agreement and Malé Declaration” was organized during 19-23 September 2022 at AIT, Pathum Thani, Thailand. Participants from member countries of the 2 Intergovernmental Networks of Asia, namely, the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (10 Southeast Asian countries) and the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia (8 South Asian countries) were invited to the workshop. A total of 55 participants, including 35 participants representing the member countries of the ASEAN Haze Agreement and the Malé Declaration, AIT and partner organizations participated in the 5-day workshop. Out of 55 participants, 24 were women and a healthy gender balance was achieved. The participants included policymakers, air quality managers, and scientific and technical staff working with the government institutions. The proceedings of the workshop covered 5 Modules (Air Quality Monitoring, Emission Inventory Development, Air Quality Modeling, Impact Assessment, and Policy Measures for Air Pollution Mitigation). A total of 11 lectures delivered, conducted 2 hands-on trainings, organized 2 visits to air quality monitoring labs of AIT and filed visits to air quality labs of ERTC and PCD. Most participants have rated “4” (1-10 scale) regarding their knowledge and understanding on all aspects of AQM before the workshop. Their knowledge and understanding was increased to “8” after the workshop. Participants informed that they had learned a lot from the workshop and satisfied with the workshop proceedings. Feedback from participants provided a way forward to organize separate workshop on emission inventory developments and air quality modeling in the near future. A “Certificate of Participation” was awarded to each participant.