Air quality management status and needs of countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia

Abstract

Countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia are experiencing severe air pollution problems. Most countries lack technical capabilities and adequate air quality management (AQM) infrastructure. A capacity building workshop on AQM was organised from 19-23 September 2022 for countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia. A total of 17 countries (eight in South Asia and nine in Southeast Asia) participated in the workshop. Each country was invited to present on available AQM infrastructure, including challenges and needs. This article synthesises information on available AQM facilities, challenges and needs of the countries. The information reveals that, except for a few low-population countries and Thailand, most countries lack enough ambient air quality monitoring stations (AAQMS) based on the population-weighted criteria. It is also found that only a few countries have started compiling emissions inventories (EI) and performing air quality modelling, including air pollution impact assessments. It is noted that all countries have enacted air pollution mitigation regulations, including the development of clean policies and action plans. However, policies and action plans lack scientific evidence based on local data. The findings of this article, including challenges and gaps, provide immense opportunities for countries to invest in strengthening various components of AQM, including mobilising financial resources from international funding agencies.

Editorial: Crucial air quality, atmospheric environment, and climate change in low- and middle-income countries

“…Reducing emissions like carbon dioxide and particulate matter is crucial for both improving air quality and mitigating the impact of climate change (Im et al, 2022). Many developing countries in South Asia and Southeast Asia have faced severe air pollution problems, particularly with particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5 ) exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline value in Asian cities (Sooktawee et al, 2023;Verma et al, 2023;Jawaa et al, 2024). They have also experienced climate change impacts, both extreme and slow-onset events such as warm days and nights, intense heat waves, unpredictable floods, sea-level rise, and saltwater intrusion (Hussain et al, 2020;Limsakul et al, 2023).…”