Mr. Cornie Huizenga, CAI-Asia Center Executive Director (left) shakes hands with Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok (right) during the MOU signing

22 April 2008 | Bangkok: Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) together with the Pollution Control Department and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center will host the Better Air Quality (BAQ 2008) Workshop in 12 – 14 November 2008 at the Imperial Queens Park Hotel in Bangkok. The theme of the event is "Air Quality and Climate Change: Scaling up Win – Win Solutions for Asia." The workshop’s objectives are to (i) exchange knowledge on technology as well as efficiency enhancement methods on air pollution management among countries and international organizations; (ii) to enhance skills of the Thai officials in air quality management; and (iii) to create leadership in air quality management in the Asian region. More importantly, the workshop will help push forward the solutions for air pollutions and the global warming problem which derives from increasing greenhouse gases. It is expected that around 1,000 participants will attend BAQ 2008 from Asia and the rest of the world.

To prepare for BAQ 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding roles, responsibilities, and support for the organization of BAQ 2008 was signed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Pollution Control Department, and the CAI-Asia Center. See www.baq2008.org for more information.