Workshop and Science Policy Dialogue: Air Pollution, Climate, and Health in South Asia and the HKH

Background

Over the past four years, the Atmosphere Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has hosted a series of regional atmospheric science workshops. These have facilitated the process of building a community of atmospheric scientists working in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) and nearby regions, and of fostering increasing cross-border collaborations.

From 27 November to 1 December 2017, ICIMOD, together with the Nepal Government’s Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE), will be hosting a series of events on air pollution and its impacts on climate and health in South Asia and the HKH. These events will include an atmospheric scientists’ workshop (27–28 November), a science-policy dialogue (29 November), and a regional policymakers’ meeting (30 November) which will include discussions on the future of the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia.

The scientists’ workshop will feature talks by select speakers, extensive poster presentations by participating scientists, as well as a discussion on the current state of knowledge and level of scientific consensus on a range of topics. Select scientists will be invited to give panel presentations or to participate in discussions at the science policy dialogue.

Workshop Objectives

• Community building among the region’s atmospheric scientists: sharing research projects, methodologies and results, and formation of thematic groups.
• Consensus building among scientists on key topics/thematic areas.
• Fostering improved evidence-based policy making through improved two-way communication between scientists and policymakers.

Meeting Schedule and Location

• 27 November Scientists’ Workshop
• 28 November Scientists’ Workshop
• 29 November Science-Policy Dialogue
• 30 November Policy Meeting (closed door)/Field Trips

Geographic Scope

Although ICIMOD’s primary focus is on mountainous areas of the HKH where its eight member countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan—are located, both MoPE and ICIMOD recognize that air does not stay confined within this region and that valuable insights can be gained from surrounding regions and important lessons learnt from the same. Thus, MoPE and ICIMOD would like to welcome abstracts from interested participants beyond ICIMOD member countries, working in the larger South Asian region stretching from Iran to Sri Lanka, and to Southeast Asia and East Asia. Interested participants from other mountainous areas of the world who may have interesting lessons to share are also invited.

Topics for Poster Abstracts

• Observations of aerosols and gases in urban and mountainous areas
• Emission measurements and inventories
• Health impacts of air pollution
• Impacts of air pollution on climate, cryosphere, ecosystems, and agriculture
• Aerosol-cloud interactions
• Measurement, modeling, and remote sensing technology
• Building regional networks
• Social, economic, or policy aspects of air pollution and its mitigation

Target Participants

Professors, PhD students, researchers, and government employees working on air pollution and its impacts.

Funding

Limited funding is available for participants’ travel and local expenses in Kathmandu. Please indicate in the abstract submission form whether you require funding to attend.

Abstract submission

Deadline: 16 October 2017

To participate in the scientists’ workshop, participants/applicants must have submitted an abstract.

Selection Process

All Abstracts will be reviewed by a selection committee at ICIMOD’s Atmosphere Initiative. Only successful applicants will be notified via email.

Note: Enquiries regarding the status of application and submission of grant applications via email will not be entertained.