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Malé Declaration

5^th Malé Declaration Webinar Highlights the Need for Stronger Air Quality Monitoring and Regional Cooperation

Webinar Series on Air Quality Management: Science and Investment for Sustainable Development in Malé Declaration Member Countries

27 July 2026 Webinar

The Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP), in collaboration with the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), organized the 5th Webinar in the Malé Declaration Webinar Series on 27 July 2026 under the topic “Ambient Air Monitoring and Data Quality Issues in South Asia.”

A total of 53 participants (30 male and 23 female) joined the webinar, representing academia, government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector. Participants were mainly from South and Southeast Asia, with additional participation from France, Somalia, Qatar, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Participants of the 5th Malé Declaration Webinar

Opening Session

Dr. Vanisa Surapipith, Head of the Air Pollution Cluster, AIT RRC.AP, welcomed participants and briefly introduced the Malé Declaration as a regional framework for addressing air pollution and its transboundary effects in South Asia. She highlighted that the webinar aimed to discuss existing ambient air quality monitoring networks and data quality issues in the region, while supporting ongoing efforts to revitalize the Malé Declaration and strengthen regional cooperation.

Presentations Session

Airshed-based Clean Air Actions in the IGP-HF

Mr. Ashish Tiwari, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, highlighted that air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) crosses administrative and national boundaries and therefore requires an airshed-based approach. He stressed the need for a long-term, focused strategy, robust national planning, evidence-based policies and implementation, supported by bottom-up emission inventories, source apportionment, improved monitoring, decision-support tools, financing, and regional cooperation.

Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring in Pakistan and How to Integrate the Data for Policy Support

Prof. Muhammad Fahim Khokhar, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, highlighted severe particulate pollution and recurring winter smog, together with gaps in monitoring networks, data availability, institutional capacity, financing, and coordination. He proposed a hybrid monitoring network combining low-cost sensors with reference monitors and stressed the need to strengthen the broken linkages between policymakers, regulators, research institutions, and academia so that policies are supported by scientific evidence.

Presentation on Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring in Pakistan by Prof. Muhammad Fahim Khokhar

Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring in Bangladesh and How to Integrate the Data for Policy Support

Prof. Biswas Karabi Farhana, North South University, Bangladesh, presented the status of air quality monitoring in Bangladesh and explained how monitoring data can be translated into policies and used for research. She highlighted the need to improve monitoring coverage and data quality, integrate ground-based and satellite observations, strengthen technical capacity, and promote joint research, data sharing, forecasting, and regional cooperation.

Presentation on Ambient Air Pollution Monitoring in Bangladesh by Prof. Biswas Karabi Farhana

Q&A Highlights

The Q&A session covered several practical questions related to air quality management in the region:

Clean technologies and energy security: The discussion highlighted that there is a range of technologies available, and the choice should depend on “which technology fits where.” Electric boilers may be suitable where renewable electricity is available, while other options such as biomass-based steam systems or heat pumps may be more appropriate under different local conditions.
Emission inventories: The discussion emphasized that emission inventories for air quality management should be bottom-up and survey-based, supported by national data and ground-level surveys. It was also noted that SLCP inventories can be integrated with air quality inventories where emission sources are common.
High PM2.5 levels in Lahore: The discussion identified multiple contributing sources, including agricultural burning, brick kilns, vehicles, road dust, and development activities. Addressing the problem requires comprehensive emission inventories, scientific evidence, targeted interventions, and clear responsibilities among relevant stakeholders.

Concluding Remarks

Mr. Jatinder S. Kamyotra, Regional Facilitator of the Malé Declaration and former Director of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India, emphasized that air quality data across the region need to meet consistent standards of reliability and acceptability to support meaningful comparisons and regional policy development. He called for uniform protocols, stronger institutional capacity, and better integration of different monitoring approaches. He also highlighted the role of the revitalized Malé Declaration in strengthening regional cooperation towards a cleaner environment, cleaner air, and better health for all.

Watch the Recording

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