The United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) have agreed to host the Second Regional EST Forum as part of the Better Air Quality (BAQ) 2006 week on 11-12 December 2006 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The Regional EST Forum is a joint initiative of UNCRD and the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, which provides a strategic/ knowledge platform for sharing experiences and disseminating among Asian countries best practices, policy instruments, tools, technologies, in relation to various aspects of EST. The Regional EST Forum is comprised of (1) high-level government representatives (both from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Transport) and (2) a subsidiary expert group of internationally renowned experts in various thematic areas related to EST. Participating countries include the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Mongolia, Peoples Republic of China, Republic of Korea and Japan. The experts of the Forum provide strategic guidance to the participating countries in the relevant EST areas, including the formulation of national EST strategies. The first Regional EST Forum was conducted in Aichi, Japan in August 2005 and resulted in the Aichi Statement.

BAQ 2006 with over 1000 participants will be the largest meeting on urban air quality in Asia in 2006. BAQ 2006 is co-organized by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia, the city of Yogyakarta and the Province of Yogyakarta. The central theme of BAQ 2006 is "A Celebration of Efforts" to pay tribute to what has been achieved in air quality management while highlighting the efforts that are still required. Mr. Kong Ha, the chairperson of CAI-Asia commented: "the decision of UNCRD to host the Second Regional Environmental Sustainable Transport Forum will help CAI-Asia to involve decision makers in Asia in a more effective manner in designing strategies to reduce air pollution from the transport sector."

Hosting the second EST forum in Indonesia with active involvement of the government of Indonesia will be an important step in formulating an effective strategy for the implementation of the Aichi Statement adopted at the first EST Forum meeting in Aichi, Japan in 2005. Indonesia, like other countries in South East Asia is facing a rapid motorization which has resulted in growing problems related to air pollution, congestion and poor road safety.

The second EST forum will discuss policies and initiatives to promote sustainable transport in Asia and it will further steps to facilitate the full implementation of the objectives in the Aichi Statement. Mr. Kazunobu Onogawa, Director UNCRD motivated the decision to work with CAI-Asia in the organization of the EST forum by saying: "the synergy between the objectives and the activities of CAI-Asia and those of the EST forum is a natural fit which will improve the effectiveness of the activities of both organizations."

CAI-Asia is a multi-sector network of institutions and individuals committed to improving AQM founded in February 2001 by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, CAI-Asia initiates, coordinates, and in selected cases, implements AQM initiatives to improve air quality management and air quality in Asian cities. For more information see www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia

UNCRD was established in 1971 as a United Nations organization promoting regional development in developing and transitional economies in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. The Centre targets its programmes towards socially and environmentally sustainable development, focusing on the three key components of Human Security, Environment, and Disaster Management. The Centre (i) provides advisory services, (ii) facilitates the exchange of information, experience, and teaching, and (iii) fosters collaboration and cooperation among national and international organizations through its training, research, and project activities. For more information see www.uncrd.or.jp

Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, reformed in 2001, is responsible for the national environmental policy since its establishment in 1971. The mission of the Ministry ranges widely from planning and formulation of Integrated Environmental Policy, promoting Global Environment Conservation, performing Environmental Management, Waste and Recycle Management, Nature Conservation, to Environmental Health. For more information see www.env.go.jp/en