Background

The Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia (Malé Declaration) was adopted at the 7th Governing Council of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), held in Malé in April 1998, following a round-table policy dialogue organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in March 1998 at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok. Representatives from the Ministries of Environment of South Asian countries participated in the meeting and agreed to initiate an intergovernmental network involving Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Republic of Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The Declaration emphasizes the need for countries to carry forward studies and programmes on air pollution at the national level.

To support the revitalization and effective implementation of the Malé Declaration, a monthly regional webinar series is proposed to promote peer learning and enhance scientific and policy dialogue on air quality and transboundary air pollution, in line with the resolutions of the Malé Declaration “Ambition to Action” meeting held in Bangkok in June 2025. The overall aim of the webinar series is to present progress on air quality management in South Asia at all levels and to reach out to young learners and practitioners who may not be able to travel to engage with resource persons. The knowledge gained will support them in formulating solutions to improve air quality in their communities and contribute to the implementation of high-level policies on the ground.

Objective

The specific objective of the 5th Webinar under the topic “Ambient Air Monitoring and Data Quality (Issues?) in South Asia” is to encourage discussion on the status of ambient air quality monitoring networks in the region. Reliable air quality monitoring data are essential for assessing pollution levels, trends, and impacts and form the foundation for effective air quality management.

Although monitoring networks are expanding across the region, challenges remain in data quality assurance, coverage, comparability, and interpretation. The webinar will review existing monitoring practices, airshed-based clean air actions, and available support programmes. It will also identify gaps and capacity-building needs and discuss how reliable and comparable monitoring data can support regional modelling, policy decisions, fact-finding, and future research under the Malé Declaration.

Target Audience

The webinar is intended for government officials, air quality monitoring agencies, technical experts, researchers, practitioners, students, and young professionals interested in ambient air monitoring, data quality, air quality management, environmental policy, and regional cooperation. It also aims to reach young learners and practitioners who may have limited opportunities to travel and engage directly with expert resource persons. While the focus is on South Asia, anyone interested in the topic is welcome to join.

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