Third Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum

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Virtual

The Third Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum will be held virtually on 8-9 September 2021 and is hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Japan. Under the theme, “Build back better for healthy air, healthy planet”, the meeting will showcase the region’s efforts and progress to beat air pollution and discuss opportunities to accelerate clean air solutions, contribute to carbon neutrality, and support socio-economic recovery.

Recognizing progress and renewed focus: We have achieved considerable progress in addressing air pollution, already seen in the significant improvement in sulfur dioxide levels in several countries since 2000 and the banning of lead in fuel. But more needs to be done in order to achieve air quality levels within the recommended health guidelines by 2030 (UNEA Resolution 3/8 on Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution Globally).

Fortunately, there are opportunities through: (i) integrated air quality and climate planning; (ii) strengthened sectoral interventions on open burning, coal, and sustainable mobility; (iii) incorporating sustainability in recovery plans; and (iv) commitments to reach net zero emissions, among others.

Innovation: ‘Business-as-usual’ will not be enough to beat air pollution. There has been significant traction in adopting new and innovative approaches to clean air solutions through policy and governance, technology, and finance. Governments leaders, experts, private sector, and civil society organizations will be able to share and discuss emerging science and challenges in air pollution control and identify opportunities on how they can be addressed. This includes lessons learned from the pandemic, innovative strategy on how we can rebuild better and in a sustainable manner, as well as the need for a gender perspective to scale up clean air actions.

Partnerships for solutions: Owing to the nature of air pollution and its drivers, we need multi-level and multi-stakeholder partnerships involving national, urban and rural authorities, private sector, children and youth, civil society and international organizations, and robust frameworks to support and facilitate clean air action in key sectors. Air quality stakeholders will be able to discuss how to scale-up and accelerate clean air solutions and link recovery efforts to address environmental and social issues, including air quality.