This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
2 mins Read
Experts from the HKH region discussed efforts to integrate air pollution and climate change mitigation activities in Asia during a side event organised by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan at the ongoing UNFCCC COP21 Climate Change Conference in Paris.
The 3 December event ‘Making an Integrated Approach to Air Pollution and Climate Change a Reality in Asia’ took place at the Japan Pavilion, and included experts from Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), IGES, and Ministry of Environment, Bangladesh.
Many climate change actions reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) (such as carbon dioxide (CO2)) and curb air pollution. Mitigating some air pollutants, known as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), can also help limit near-term climate change. The growing awareness of air-climate linkages underlines the need for policymakers to take more integrated approaches to climate change and air pollution policies. The benefits of doing so promise to be particularly significant in Asia.
The side event highlighted the activities of initiatives such as Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) that aims to equip policymakers with the knowledge and skills to make integrated approaches to climate change and air pollution a reality in Asia.
Speaking at the panel, Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director of Programme Operations at ICIMOD, highlighted major issues and their far reaching consequences such as melting of cryosphere partly caused by black carbon deposition, changing monsoon patterns impacting agriculture, increasing urban air pollution impacting health, regional haze over the Indo-Gangetic Plain impacting people’s lives and tourism in winter. His presentation also touched upon the summary of research that ICIMOD is conducting to understand the linkages between air quality and climate change in Asia, and how that research is envisaged to promote action on the ground.
Sharma also highlighted ICIMOD’s efforts in establishing observatories in Bhutan and Nepal — including networking with China and India — for better transboundary monitoring of air pollutants, including black carbon.
‘The science evidence generated through long term monitoring shall help in policy formulation in the region’, Sharma said.
Participating partners have agreed to work cohesively in the region and in close cooperation with CCAC. Martina Otto from CCAC said action on SLCPs can feed into clean air and climate policies, which also contributes to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr Eric Zusman from IGES said the coalition would further awareness in all sections of the society.
ICIMOD’s delegation is at the COP21, Paris organising and attending various activities. For complete list of events, please visit our dedicated webpage for the COP21: www.icimod.org/cop21
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
Related contents
Just as in the other hilly districts of Nepal, the out-migration by the youths in Nuwakot, mainly by the male ...
Zarnash Bibi, a teacher from Pakistan says that flood early warning systems have put vulnerable communities at ease: “Earlier, we ...
In the aftermath of the 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, ...
The SAARC region is one of the most densely populated and ecologically vulnerable regions in the world housing more than 40 percent ...
The 7.8 magnitude Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015 and subsequent aftershocks caused more than 8,500 fatalities, nearly 22,500 injured, ...
Titled Ecotourism Plan for Hkakabo Razi Landscape, the event provided stakeholders an opportunity to voice concerns and communicate directly with ...
[caption id="attachment_7734" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Gunjan Silwal all set for her poster presentation.[/caption] Gunjan Silwal, ...
Eklabya Sharma, the Deputy Director General of ICIMOD, delivered a keynote speech at the conference. Sharma talked about the importance ...