News and Events

ADB Supports Better Air Quality in Asia
6-8 December 2004; Agra, India

ADB, through the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia), participated in the Better Air Quality (BAQ) workshop, which was held on 6-8 December 2004, Agra, India. With over 650 people from over 30 countries attending, BAQ 2004 was the largest regional air quality management last year. Workshop documents and presentations are available at the BAQ 2004 website: www.baq2004.org

For four years now, the BAQ workshops have given hundreds of policymakers from across the region the opportunity to explore new ways to reduce air pollution in their respective cities and countries.

The objectives of BAQ 2004 were to

• improve the science on which air quality management in Asia is based
• strengthen the governance structure for urban air quality management in Asia
• develop stronger stakeholder networks on air quality management in Asia, that involve local and national governments, civil society, academe, private sector, and development agencies
• clarify the linkage between urban air quality management and long-range transport of air pollutants in Asia and climate change

Outputs

The 3-day conference concluded with commitments from 11 countries to take specific steps to improve their air quality. These countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India.

“CAI-Asia will work closely with the countries involved to help them achieve their stated objectives before the next BAQ, to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in September 2006,” says Cornie Huizenga, head of CAI-Asia Secretariat in ADB.

The Workshop was co-hosted by the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) and the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests. Organizers include the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and CAI-Asia.

The CAI-Asia was jointly launched by ADB and the World Bank in February 2001 to promote and demonstrate innovative ways to improve the air quality in Asian cities by sharing experiences and building partnerships. CAI-Asia now has 121 institutional members under its umbrella, representing national and local government agencies, NGOs, academe, international organizations, and the private sector. For more information go to: www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia

Contacts

Daniele Ponzi
Principal Environment Specialist, RSES
Email: dponzi@adb.org

and/or

Cornie Huizenga
Consultant, CAI-Asia Secretariat
Email: chuizenga@adb.org