The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) conducted a capacity building to empower government information technology experts from ASEAN Member States (AMS) in utilizing digital technologies and data for monitoring and mitigating air pollution. The hybrid event was held on July 24-25, 2024, at the Seda North Vertis Hotel, Philippines. Representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines participated in the event. The workshop aimed to provide actionable recommendations and foster digital cooperation in the collective fight against air pollution in ASEAN by facilitating the exchange of experiences, best practices, and lessons learned among stakeholders from multiple countries. Air pollution in the ASEAN region, exacerbated by urbanization and climate change, disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, particularly those with limited access to healthcare. This has resulted in over 352,000 premature deaths annually in Southeast Asia alone. Air pollutants also significantly contribute to climate change, causing up to 110 million tons of crop losses globally each year. These issues have profound impacts on agriculture, livelihoods, and food security, presenting mounting challenges for AMS in addressing both environmental and socio-economic repercussions of air pollution. To tackle these challenges, ESCAP, in collaboration with Seoul National University and the ASEAN Secretariat, has initiated cooperative actions to address air pollution challenges using digital technologies and data through the Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) project, with financial support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund. The workshop aimed to enhance technical and policy knowledge on the use of digital technology and data to monitor and mitigate air pollution across AMS.

The capacity-building workshop included informative discussions on the challenges of addressing air pollution, identifying policy recommendations, and fostering collaboration and cooperation in the collective use of digital technology and data. Representatives from ASEAN member states presented their country’s air pollution challenges and mitigation plans. Dr. Mylene Cayetano, Professor 2 and Scientist 3 of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, College of Science, Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, presented the topic “Validating the Air Pollution Source in Metro Manila: Off-line Analysis of Sulfate and Black Carbon from Regulatory-grade PM10.” Other notable presentations included Digital Technology Applications for Addressing Air Pollution in the Philippines by the Department of ICT, Philippines; the GEMS Project on Satellite Data for Air Pollution Monitoring by Mr. Chul Min LEE, Associate Economic Affairs Officer, Space Applications Section, ESCAP; the 2030 Seoul Metropolitan City’s Air Pollution Reduction Policy by Mr. Soon Myung HONG, Chairperson, Korea Environmental Professional Engineers Association; and the Global/Regional Monitoring of Air Quality and Health Burden and Data Availability by Mr. Josselyn Mothe, Technical Officer, Air Quality and Health, World Health Organization. Harnessing Digital Technology for Air Quality Management: Insights from Cameroon, Kenya, and Timor-Leste was presented by Mr. Ngongang Wandji Danube Kirt, Technical Air Quality Expert, GEMS-AIR, EWAD, United Nations Environment Programme; and the Air Pollution Monitoring from Satellites and Numerical Weather Prediction Systems by Mr. Fu Wang, Senior Engineer, CMA Earth System Modeling and Prediction Centre. Technical training sessions covered digital tools for air pollution data analysis, such as Near Real-time Data for Air Quality Management by Dr. Mongkol Ekpanyapong and Dr. Ekbordin Winijkul, Associate Professors at the Asian Institute of Technology, and Geospatial Data Analysis with ChatGPT and the Google Earth Engine by Mr. Hamid Mehmood, Economic Affairs Officer, Space Applications Section, ESCAP.

The learning event was highlighted by a study tour to the EMB Data Center, where participants observed the data management processes, systems, and technologies used in monitoring air quality. The Air Quality Management Section (AQMS) provided an overview of various systems, including Realtime Monitoring of Industry Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) / Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems (COMS), Regional Data Acquisition and Handling System Dashboard, Realtime Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Dashboard, Air Dispersion Modelling, and several other advanced monitoring and data analysis tools. The Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) Initiative aims to improve air quality management across ASEAN Member States through the application of digital technologies and data-driven approaches. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, CASA seeks to address air pollution challenges and promote sustainable development in the region. The ESCAP identified the Philippines as having desirable air quality, and the CASA project will add value to the ongoing air pollution control and mitigation efforts. By bringing together stakeholders from AMS to share experiences, good practices, and lessons learned, the workshop provided valuable recommendations and fostered digital cooperation in utilizing digital technology and data to monitor and mitigate air pollution in ASEAN. In a related development, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) have collaborated in the Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution Information and the Pandora Asia Network (PAPGAPI-PAN) Project, which has built the capacity for PhilSA to analyze both satellite and ground measurements for a comprehensive overview of air quality in the country.

Moreover, the DENR is currently part of the international collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the “Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality” (ASIA-AQ) project, which aims to study and address air quality issues in the Asian region. This partnership brings together experts from the United States, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. EMB Director Jacqueline A. Caancan concluded, “We are hopeful that the outcomes of this knowledge-sharing initiative will enhance our pollution control and monitoring efforts in the ASEAN Member States, paving the way for cleaner air and a greener environment.” She reiterated the significance of air quality management and the role of digital technology in addressing air pollution challenges. ###