The Air Pollution Cluster (APC) is committed to finding the best solutions to combat air pollution and related environmental problems for a clean and sustainable environment in the Asian region. This initiative aims to foster renewed regional cooperation to effectively address air pollution. It seeks to achieve this by developing science-based policies, enhancing air quality management skills, gaining co-benefits, and breaking through any barriers in keeping the air clean for all generations.

The COVID-19 pandemic spread all over the world in early 2020. India imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020, for more than a month to contain the COVID-19 infection. During the nationwide lockdown, transport, industries, and commercial activities were suspended, except for essential services. We made a detailed analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on air quality in India by using the data from more than 200 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) and reported a change in the National Air Quality Index (NAQI), spatial distribution and concentration levels of PM10, PM2.5, CO, NO2, SO2, and O3 from …

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Heavy-Duty Vehicles Initiative (HDVI) is supporting the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reduce the air pollution and near-term climate impacts of diesel emissions in the on-road transport sector. The “ASEAN MEMBER STATES MEETING ON SOOT-FREE TRANSPORT: Senior Level Consultation on EURO 4/IV Implementation and EURO 6/VI Roadmap” was convened on 11-12 October 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Estimations of the emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) of Asian country was done as a part of the activities of the Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) Programme of AIT RRC.AP. ABC Programme has been supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The estimation of emissions of air pollutants and GHG in Nepal was done by Prof. Ram M. Shrestha who authored a book “Emissions of Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gases in Nepal”. The book is published by Regional Energy Resources Information Center (RERIC), AIT. Prof. Shrestha used a bottom-up approach for estimating emissions of air pollutants …

In 2012, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) launched the Heavy-Duty Vehicles and Engines Initiative to "virtually eliminate fine particle and black carbon emissions from new and existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines through the introduction of low-sulfur fuels and vehicle emission standards." Since 2012 there has been a steady progression to cleaner fuels and vehicles in many markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Eastern Europe (Figure 1). However, improvements in both fuel refining and importing markets need to be sustained through the next decade to realise the full air quality and climate change mitigation potential of cleaner …

This report presents the first comprehensive analysis of approaches to establishing BAT and similar concepts to prevent and control industrial emissions in a wide range of countries, including the following OECD Members and Partners: the Russian Federation, Korea, the United States, the European Union, India, the People’s Republic of China and New Zealand. For each country, the report presents extensive information on the procedures for collection of data on techniques for control and prevention of industrial pollution, evaluation of the techniques and identification of BAT. In addition, the report covers international initiatives facilitating the application of BAT, including under the …

The Fourteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG14) of the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its LikelyTransboundary Effects for South Asia (Malé Declaration) was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 25 November 2015. The event was attended by the representatives of the eight participating countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Experts from international organisations, such as the Asian Institute of Technology, the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the United Nations Environment Program, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP), and the Secretariat, …

The Fourteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG14) of the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its LikelyTransboundary Effects for South Asia (Malé Declaration) was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 25 November 2015.

To make it easy for the National Implementing Agency (NIA) personnel to perform their tasks proficiently, it was also decided to develop a Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) manual. Accordingly, this manual has been written by Asian technical advisor on monitoring to the Malé Declaration, checked and reviewed by the MoC.

Atmospheric brown cloud (ABC), a frequently occurring phenomenon in many regions of the world, is a regional scale plume of air pollution that consists of a mixture of anthropogenic sulfate, nitrate, organics, black carbon, dust and fly ash particles and natural aerosols, such as sea salt and mineral dust. Greater awareness of the ABC problem was generated by the 1999 Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) initiative over the North Indian Ocean region. Global concern came about following the first preliminary report on ABC, which was based on INDOEX. The global implications of ABCs were highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme …

The ‘Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia’ is an intergovernmental network involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Republic of Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Since its inception in 1998 the Malé Declaration National Focal Points (NFPs) and National Implementing Agencies (NIAs) have worked on a comprehensive set of activities, funded by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), to build capacity in South Asia for the assessment of air pollution impacts and prevention and control options. The programme was very ambitious from the outset and considerable progress has …

This report presents the data generated by the participating countries over the last three years (2009-2011) with a goal to share the results of monitoring as well as to evaluate the data generated specially with respect to trends if any. It is expected to provide an important basis for a common understanding of the present status of monitoring and the environment in the countries as well as the matters needing future attention.

This report summarises the content discussed during the consultation workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal. The workshop started with welcome remarks and Keynote Address delivered by representatives from UNEP, U.S. EPA, ICIMOD, and the Ministry of Environment, Nepal. The internationally renowned climate scientist and Chair of the ABC-International Science Team, Prof. Ramanathan, delivered the Keynote address. In his address, Prof. V. Ramanathan, expressed the need to formulate strategies for reducing black carbon emissions as the present scientific understanding of short-lived pollutants is sufficiently advanced to support appropriate policies and actions. He further mentioned in his address that black carbon emissions carry …

A thick haze is clearly discernible by NCO-P web-cam images taken on April 7 during morning and afternoon conditions, testifying the extension of Atmospheric Brown Cloud up to high Himalayas. Unusually high AOD values were detected at the NCO-P station by the in-situ AERONET measurements; high AOD values also characterized Kathmandu and Pohkara site. Aerosol profiles by CALIPSO confirm the extension and the strength of this event.

The primary aim of this book on Air Pollution Promoting Regional Cooperation is to facilitate the training of governmental decision-makers to further develop cooperation aimed at regional intergovernmental agreements or legal instruments. The book may also find readers among other policy-makers and scientists, as well as university students involved in environmental matters. Practiced negotiators may also benefit from reading selected sections. The book lays down the foundations that will enable potential negotiators to understand the principles of air pollution in its various forms and its effects, how agreements have been and can be developed, before presenting some practical suggestions on …

This report discusses the key issues related to emissions of air pollutants in South Asia and compiles good practices on control and prevention of emission of key transboundry air pollutants. 

The document 'Youth for Clean Air' contains two sections. The first section discusses the sources of air pollution and its impacts, as identified by the young people and their views on the wide-range of air pollution problems we are facing today. The second section deals with measures for reducing air pollution. Action points have been identified which can help us mitigate this growing menace of air pollution at all levels - as individuals, communities, policy makers and nations at large.