The Session was opened by Mr. Osamu Mizuno, Director of RRC.AP, who highlighted the current problems on air pollution regionally and globally and pointed out that improvements in air quality need to be considered as part of a larger sustainable development context. He stressed that Malé Declaration could play great roles on the international calling to combat air pollution, as set forth at the decisions of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution for protecting air quality and the recently adopted global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Kaveh Zahedi, Regional Director and Representative, United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP), in his welcome remarks, reaffirmed that the biggest global agenda now is the SDGs where the 3 goals pertain to air pollution. Dr. Muhammad Khurshid, Director General, South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) also gave  remarks. Mr. Jatinder Singh Kamyotra, Director, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India, was appointed as the new Regional Facilitator of Malé Declaration. He had successfully facilitated the whole day Session.

The IG14 considered, discussed, and endorsed or approved the following agenda: (1) Review on the progress of implementation of the Malé Declaration at the national level; (2) Consideration on the implementation of Malé Declaration at the regional level, including financial status and updates; (3) Consideration on strengthening the framework on air pollution reduction in South Asia; and (4) Consideration on the work programme and budget of Malé Declaration in 2016 and the future development. Each member country made a presentation on the progress of implementation of the Malé Declaration at the national level. The Secretariat also presented the progress at the regional level and the status of financial contribution to the Malé Declaration. All presentations and reports were acknowledged at the Session. The Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Expert Group on Strengthening the Framework of the Male' Declaration (Draft) was endorsed in principle, with request to the member countries on further comments, if any in one week period.  The Session approved the Work Programme and Budget in 2016.

Meeting Documents