On 27 April 2026, the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT RRC.AP) and the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) hosted the second webinar in the Malé Declaration series. Titled “Emission Inventory for Air Quality Management: Latest Development and Pathway towards Regional Database,” the event drew 146 participants from diverse sectors and global regions, with near-equal gender representation. ​

Opening and Context 

The session was moderated by Dr. Vanisa Surapipith, who emphasized the webinar’s role in revitalizing the Malé Declaration - an intergovernmental platform established in 1998 to address transboundary air pollution among seven South Asian nations and one in the Middle-east: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Dr. Surapipith noted that emission inventories are critical for managing the region's significant pollution challenges.

Technical Presentations 

Three experts presented advanced tools and methodologies for air quality management: 

• Dr. Zbigniew Klimont (IIASA): Introduced the GAINS model, an integrated tool for emission inventory and policy support. He showcased findings from the Uttar Pradesh Clean Air Program, showing that about 60% of PM2.5 pollution originates within Uttar Pradesh, and the rest comes from natural dust, neighbouring states, and transboundary sources.
  
• Dr. Chris Malley (SEI): Discussed the LEAP as a flexible and user-driven tool for integrated air pollution and climate change assessment. He highlighted case studies in Bangladesh where LEAP supported the development of the National Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Action Plan and in Pakistan, where it supported the development of the National Clean Air Policy through historical emission inventory for 2010-2021 and projected emissions to 2050. ​
  
• Dr. Sarath Guttikunda (UrbanEmissions.Info): Focused on the necessity of high-quality input data for bottom-up emission inventories. He introduced the APnA City Program, which supports air quality assessments through airshed analysis, baseline inventories, source contribution analysis, and knowledge sharing. He also presented the Delhi cost-of-inaction tool, which uses pollution trends and source apportionment results to estimate required sectoral emission reductions and show how delayed action makes air quality targets harder to achieve.

Strategic Directions and Closing 

Dr. Ram Lal Verma (Clean Air Fund) delivered the closing remarks and summarized the key messages from the speakers. He highlighted the use of GAINS and LEAP-IBC for policy analysis and planning, and recognized the long-term efforts behind UrbanEmissions.Info and the APnA City Program. He also stressed the need to improve emission data in the Global South and decouple development from air pollution. He noted that ongoing efforts to revitalize the Malé Declaration can be supported by tools such as GAINS, LEAP-IBC, and emission inventory platforms to strengthen regional cooperation and evidence-based planning. ​

Fu​ll report ​

Watch the Recording