Ulaanbaatar, March 3, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The High-Level Forum on Clean Air is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on 2-3 March 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Air pollution has a large impact on human health and ecosystems and is the most important global environmental cause of premature deaths.  The latest update of the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2021) states that 7 million people worldwide annually die prematurely of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases that are attributable to ambient and household air pollution. The greatest number (two-thirds) of these premature deaths occurred in the South-East Asian and Western Pacific regions (as defined by the WHO), which can be attributed to the rapid economical and industrial, and urban growth in these areas.

To overcome some of these barriers, member States of ESCAP have adopted, at the 7th session of the ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development, the Asia-Pacific Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP). In support of actions, the RAPAP underlines opportunities for strengthening and leveraging existing multilateral cooperation initiatives and their relevant scientific committees. The RAPAP also recommends formally involving national experts in scientific and technical activities including through a Technical Expert Group, and engaging major groups and other stakeholders.

The forum is focusing on: 1) Presenting the RAPAP to multilateral, regional, and national stakeholders for strengthening science-based and policy-oriented cooperation for improved air quality management; 2) Further elaborating the areas and modality of policy and technical cooperation of the RAPAP; 3) Developing partnership activities among multilateral and international cooperation mechanisms on air pollution in support of national action on clean air; 4) Discussing the contribution of the RAPAP to the work of multilateral and international cooperation mechanisms; 5) Formulating the modality of working groups on data and air quality standards.

The Opening session was held on March 2 at Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar. The Executive Secretary of United Nations ESCAP Ms. Armida Alisjahbana and Minister of Environment and Tourism of Mongolia Mr. Bat-Erdene delivered the opening remarks and the greeting message by Prime Minister Mr. Oyun-Erdene was presented.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Armida Alisjahbana said, “The adoption of the Action Programm and this forum demonstrates that regional cooperation is not only possible, but imperative to address the region's most pressing environmental issues. Too many of our citizens, especially the most vulnerable populations are regularly breathing unclean air. The risk to health and the cost to our economies and our environment require urgent actions. This forum must focus on leveraging our collective expertise and capacities to ensure those actions are taken immediately. Through sub-regional dialogs facilitated by ESCAP and the member states led consultations that generated consensus on a focused and actionable program, we now have in the regional action program, five clearly defined areas for countries to develop domestic actions as well as for enhanced regional cooperation. We know that circumstances vary across our region, but all countries can improve, and an enhanced exchange of experiences can support country level actions.”

Noting the fact that the Forum is being held in the coldest and one of the most vulnerable cities to climate change, the Minister of Environment and Tourism Mr. Bat-Erdene said, “For developing countries, the air pollution is attributable to cold winter and outdated technologies. Yet, we can contribute to mitigating climate change through renewable energy solutions, using eco cars, and creating green jobs. To that extent, we are striving to develop international and regional cooperation and have factories, technologies, and facilities that are environmentally friendly and meet international health  standards.” 

The greeting message of the Prime Minister of Mongolia Mr. Oyun-Erdene was presented during the opening session. In his message, the Prime Minister of Mongolia Mr. Oyun-Erdene said, “Besides air pollution, sand dust, soil pollution, and household air pollution had become critical issues for Mongolia. The goals to reduce air pollution in the capital city by up to 80 percent, to provide up to 30 percent of energy consumption with renewable energy by 2030, and to contribute to the energy supply of the region in the future are specified in the "Vision-2050," a long-term policy of the Government. Moreover, we strive to implement the “One Billion Trees” national campaign with the international community, cooperate with Korea, China, and Japan in mitigating climate change, and strengthen cooperation between developing countries. Currently, under the “One Billion trees” national campaign, about 32 million trees have been planted."

This forum, which brought together the high-level representatives from 53 countries, such as the USA, the Republic of India, the UK, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, Turkey, China, and New Zealand, which are members of the UNESCAP, as well as over 200 representatives of international research and development organizations, is one of the activities in preparation for the 17th conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Desertification (COP 17), which will be held in Mongolia in 2026. 

During this forum, five sessions are being held, including Improving Air Quality Management, Air Quality Monitoring, Best Practice Sharing and Capacity Building, Collaboration on Air Quality Data and Standards, and Partnership for RAPAP implementation.