Background
In the ASEAN region, air pollution is increasing in intensity due to urbanization and climate change. Exposure to poor air quality disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations, especially the poor with limited access to healthcare, resulting in more than 352,000 premature deaths annually in Southeast Asia alone.
Air pollutants also significantly contributors to climate change and cause up to 110 million tons of crop losses globally each year, with significant negative impacts on agriculture, livelihoods and food security. As such, governments of the ASEAN Member States face growing challenges in addressing the environmental and socio-economic impacts of air pollution.
As part of the Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) project supported by the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund, ESCAP is cooperating with various entities in the Republic of Korea and the WHO to strengthen the capacities of ASEAN Member States to mitigate air pollution and its negative impact on public health.
Against this backdrop, ESCAP is organizing a workshop to strengthen the capacities of government officials from ASEAN Member States to effectively utilize digital technologies and data to monitor and mitigate air pollution. By bringing together stakeholders from multiple countries to share experiences, good practices and lessons learned, the workshop will help to provide recommendations and foster digital cooperation in utilizing digital technology and data to monitor and mitigate air pollution in ASEAN.
Objectives
• Enhance technical and policy knowledge on the use of digital technology and data to monitor and mitigate air pollution in AMS
• Share experiences, good practices and lessons learned across AMS in using digital technology and data to address air pollution
• Discuss challenges in addressing air pollution, identify policy recommendations, and foster collaboration and cooperation in the collective use of digital technology and data to address air pollution in AMS
Participation (By Invitation Only)
• Up to 2 government-nominated participants from ASEAN Member States will be sponsored, in line with United Nations rules and regulations
• All other participants are kindly requested to join online
Contact persons at ESCAP and DENR of the Philippines
Ms. Yoonyoung Lee, Coordinator, ICT & Development Section, ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, ESCAP, Email: yoonyoung.lee@un.org , with cc to escap-ids@un.org , kimt@un.org and seul.yi@un.org
Mr. John Darren M. Chua, Development Management Officer II, Project Preparation Division, Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service, DENR, Email: jdmchua@denr.gov.ph
