SPEAKER
Cornie Huizenga is the Executive Director of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center (CAI– Asia), the leading regional multi-stakeholder initiative on urban air quality management in Asia. An international expert on urban air quality management, Mr. Huizenga has been involved in a range of air quality programs and projects at a regional level and in various Asian countries.
Mr. Huizenga is one of the authors of a recent book, "Urban Air Pollution in Asia" (Earthscan 2006), which reports on a comprehensive benchmarking study on urban air quality management capabilities in Asia among 20 Asian mega cities. He is also one of the initiators of a series of governmental meetings on urban air quality, the first of which was conducted last year in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (BAQ Asia 2006).
To read more about CAI-Asia, please see www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia.
ABSTRACT
Home to a burgeoning urban population, South Asia faces severe environmental challenges, especially with regard to urban air quality. Increasing mortality and morbidity due to air pollution in South Asian cities costs billions of dollars and undermines rapid economic growth witnessed by the region. Addressing and managing urban air quality in South Asian cities is imperative for the region to maintain and accelerate economic growth.
The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities promotes and demonstrates innovative ways to improve the air quality of Asian cities through partnerships and sharing experiences. It has facilitated the formation of clean air networks in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and those for India and Bangladesh are in the pipeline.
The seminar focused on status and trends in urban air pollution in the region, the emerging challenges and possible solutions. It elaborated on the need for regional partnerships and multi-stakeholder approaches for urban air quality management in South Asia. In this context, the presentation drew on the experience and lessons from other Asian countries.
South Asia |
