Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution Control

Date: 30 March 2023
Hybrid event (Vientiane, Lao PDR and online)

The GMS is undergoing a rapid economic growth and industrial development that resulted in a significant increase of air, water and soil pollution, and related risks like declining human health, disruptions in food chains, and inadequate quality of drinking water. Various sectors contribute to the environmental pollution in the region. The industry sector is the source of the widest spectrum of contaminants, and the agriculture sector produces contaminants that impair the quality of water and soil through fertilizers and pesticides. The agriculture sector also contributes to air pollution through farm vehicles and tractors, animal raising operations and crop burning. In urban areas, road transport is a significant source of air pollution from fossil fuels which contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain. To tackle these environmental challenges, it is essential to develop and improve environmental regulations and standards in the GMS.

The policy dialogue on pollution control will focus on: 

1. Air Quality Improvement 
   
   • air pollution prevention and control
   • air emissions and air quality regulations
   • crop burning regulations
   • air quality monitoring and prediction
2. Rural Environmental Management
3. Environmental Cooperation
4. Next Generation Environmental Regulation

A policy assessment document focusing on air pollution in the GMS region will be forwarded to participants before the event to facilitate the dialogue.

Objectives

1. To introduce findings in the policy assessment on air pollution control management in the GMS countries 
2. To present examples of new ways forward in the GMS region and abroad 
3. To give GMS country representatives an opportunity to present their views 

Target Participants

Target participants for the policy dialogue include WGE focal points and coordinators, and representatives of relevant government departments and ministries from each country, besides key development partners, representatives from civil society, NGOs and academia, private sector. The policy dialogue will gather 40-50 participants.

Contact:

Regarding the program of the Policy Dialogue please contact:
Ms. Chiara Metallo, CCESP thematic lead for Theme 4, at cmetallo@ramboll.com

Regarding the CCESP Program, please contact:
Ms. Qudsia Sadiq at gms-ccesp@ramboll.com

GMS CCESP Policy Dialogue Air Pollution Control – Agenda

About the GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program (CCESP)

The technical assistance (TA) GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program (CCESP), was approved by ADB to support the implementation of the Strategic Framework and Action Plan. This is the third and current phase of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Core Environment Program (CEP). The CCESP Program, to be implemented in 202-2025, targets three outputs, each covering two themes:

1. Climate and disaster resilience enhanced (Theme 1), and low carbon transitions facilitated (Theme 2)
2. Climate-smart landscapes promoted (Theme 3), and environmental quality enhanced (Theme 4)
3. Green technologies (Theme 5) and financing instruments demonstrated (Theme 6)

The above six themes were prioritized by the Working Group on Environment (WGE) during the 24^th GMS WGE Annual Meeting in 2019. The TA aims to help develop climate-friendly projects in the GMS regional investment framework (RIF) through enhancing capacities and enabling policies, demonstrating innovative activities, and catalyzing private sector opportunities.