BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The Clean Air Asia and the Ricardo - AEA Limited under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized Asia Clean Air Exchange from May 24-26, 2022.
 
This is a three-day online air quality policy workshop and technology fair bringing together officials from the Asia-Pacific countries, private sector representatives, technology providers, and other interested stakeholders. 

According to Karma Yangzom, principal environmental specialist of the ADB, the activity aims to help participating Asian cities and countries learn from the recent program and project experiences of China in reducing emissions, improving air quality, and saving energy in key sectors.
 
She added that there is an urgent need to improve the air quality situation in Asia.
 
"The objective of the activity is offering solutions by sharing experiences and successful stories by the People's Republic of China," Yangzom said.
 
The activity also aims to build linkages between technology providers and potential users in government and private sector from the participating cities and countries.

Representatives of the cities of Tianjin, Ji'ning, Chengdu, and Shenzhen shared their air quality management experiences.
 
Among the points stressed during the discussions are tracing the major pollution sources, and the creation and carrying out of comprehensive and sustainable plans to prevent and control air pollution. They also shared about structural adjustment or incorporating atmospheric environmental protection into municipal economic and social development plans, and the active public participation for environmental protection.
 
Various experts also shared their policy, standard, and good practices in different sectors such as the power generation, transport, clean cooking and heating, agricultural waste utilization, urban waste management, and brick kiln.
 
The activity is part of the Strengthening Knowledge and Actions for Air Quality Improvement Project participated by seven cities from five countries in Asia. These are La Trinidad (Philippines), Erdenet (Mongolia), Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Yen (Vietnam), Peshawar and Sialkot (Pakistan), and Faridpur (Bangladesh).

The project targets to address the gaps in the ability of Asian cities to deliver air quality improvements by enhancing their knowledge and capacity to develop policy actions and technological solutions. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)