Fourth Regional Dialogue of AQM Initiatives and Programs in Asia
30-31 January 2008, UN Conference Center, Bangkok

Final Report [.pdf, 120.6Kb]

Thirty-one (31) participants representing twenty-one (21) development agencies, initiatives and programs focusing on air quality management, energy management, and climate change mitigation in Asia identified potential areas for collaboration during the Fourth Regional Dialogue of Air Quality Management (AQM) Initiatives and Programs in Asia held on 30-31 January 2008 at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok. Among the organizations and programs joining the Dialogue for the first time were the Clinton Climate Initiative, Global Atmospheric Pollution Forum, Groupe Agence Francaise de Developpement, Hanns Seidel Foundation, Regional Forum on Environment and Health, Rockefeller Foundation, and UN Habitat. The Fourth Regional Dialogue was jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center (CAI-Asia Center).

Participants List [.pdf, 10.4Kb]

Examples of cooperative efforts identified were: (a) development of an integrated AQM database, (b) participation of relevant programs in important meetings of policymakers such as the ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting, (c) linking up of project and development agency offices with CAI-Asia Center’s local networks and other similar networks, (d) dissemination of study results, best practices, and other program outputs, (e) exchange of information on innovative financing mechanisms for projects, and (f) participation in the Better Air Quality 2008 (BAQ 2008) Conference and Workshop through side events or presentations in the different sessions.

Agenda [.pdf, 69.5Kb]

Some of the highlights of the Regional Dialogue were:

• Presentation by UNEP on the Activities on Regional Air Pollution in Asia
• Presentation by the CAI-Asia Center on Urban Air Quality Management in Asia: Status and Trends
• Presentation on CAI-Asia Center: An Update
• Presentations by the different development agencies, programs and initiatives on the focus of their assistance to AQM, energy management and climate change mitigation in Asia
  
  Health Effects Institute
  
  Groupe Agence Francaise de Developpement
  
  ECO-Asia Clean Development and Climate Program
  
  Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network
  
  IAEA/RCA
  
  Asian Institute of Technology
  
  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)
  
  Clinton Climate Initiative
  
  Strengthening Global Co-operation on Atmospheric Pollution Issues
  
  Research on Dust and Sandstorm in East Asia
  
  UNESCAP
  
  Asian Development Bank
  
  Swiss-Vietnamese Clean Air Program
  
  The Sustainable Asia Cities Network Experiences & Climate Change
  
  
• Presentation and discussion of the initial plan for an Integrated AQM Database (iAQM Database)
• Update on the preparations for BAQ 2008 Conference and Workshop to be held in Bangkok on 12-14 November 2008
• Presentation of CAI-Asia Center’s AQM 2007 Compendium: An Analysis of AQM Organizations, Projects, and Training Courses in Asia and the 2007 Compendium Report
• Discussion of the initial plan for the Long-Term Vision for Urban Air Quality in Asia to be discussed in the Second Governmental Meeting on Urban Air Quality in Asia planned for late June in Bangkok

In 2004, 2005 and 2006, similar Regional Dialogues were also jointly organized by UNEP and the CAI-Asia to promote coordination and cooperation among air quality programs and projects. See links to the documents of the previous Regional Dialogues:

2004
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-58414.html
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-58466.html

2005
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-60102.html

2006
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-71147.html