Organizers
Better Air Quality 2008 is organized by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Pollution Control Department, and the CAI-Asia Center, in cooperation with the ADB, UNEP and ESCAP.
Message from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
Apirak Kosayodhin
Governor of Bangkok
"Large cities like Bangkok, with their big populations, traffic, and industries, produce emissions into the atmosphere of a wide range of gases and small particles. These emissions affect air quality and hence the health of Bangkok’s citizens. Some major emissions, such as carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel, are primary contributors to climate change.
"We now know that the rapidly increasing emission of these greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere causes worldwide changes in climate, among them increased average temperatures and more frequent and severe tropical storms. Though climate change is global, it will alter local ecosystems and affect the livelihoods and well-being of people in local communities everywhere.
"The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) recognizes the seriousness of climate change, and realizes that this crisis cannot be solved by any single organization or country. Yet initial actions need to be taken within the global community to mitigate this problem. For its part, the BMA has adopted the Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation 2007-2012, which consists of 5 initiatives in mass transportation, use of renewable energy, efficient electricity consumption of buildings, sanitation management, and green space for Bangkok. The Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15% by the year 2012. To achieve this goal, we need the full support from the people of Bangkok as well as every sector of the city to implement successfully BMA’s Action Plan on Global Warming Mitigation."
BMA contact person:
Siriporn Tantivanich
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Thailand
siribhond (at) yahoo (dot) com
Message from the Pollution Control Department
Supat Wangwongwatana
Director General, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand
"As someone who has attended all BAQ events since 2002, I am very pleased that BAQ 2008 will be held in Bangkok. For the Pollution Control Department, this will provide a unique opportunity to share our experience in air quality monitoring, tightening of fuel standards, fuel conversion of taxis and tuktuks to CNG, and working with BMA to introduce the Skytrain, Metro, and soon Thailand's first bus rapid transit system. The success stories of air quality in Thailand has been a result of the tireless efforts of the Thai government in collaboration with other stakeholders, including industry, academe, and civil society as well as international cooperation to reduce air pollutants from all major sources such as industry and transportation. Thailand is still concerned with the issues of particulate matter, smog, and climate change. We cherish the chance to learn and exchange knowledge and experiences with other countries and international organizations. The BAQ workshops are a gathering of like minded individuals with a vision of creating better air quailty for a better quality of life. "
PCD contact person:
Siwaporn Rungsiyanon
Pollution Control Department, Thailand
siwaporn.r (at) pcd (dot) go (dot) th
Message from the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia)
Elizea (Bebet) Gozun
Chair, CAI-Asia Partnership, and honored as one of the Champions of the Earth 2007 by UNEP
"The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities was established in 2001 to tackle the problem of urban air pollution in Asia. After 7 years of activities by CAI-Asia we are pleased to see that Asian cities are taking urban air pollution more seriously and this has resulted in some improvements in air quality in many of the cities in Asia. Much more needs to be done, however, before the air quality in Asian cities will be what it should be. The growing attention for climate change, as demonstrated in the COP meeting in Bali in December of last year, offers a unique opportunity to the air quality community in Asia to find new partners and allies to further improve the air quality in Asia. BAQ 2008 will be an ideal opportunity to forge coordination and cooperation between the air quality and the climate change community, and I sincerely hope to see many of you in Bangkok in November to make this happen."
CAI-Asia contact person:
Cornie Huizenga
CAI-Asia Center
cornie.huizenga (at) cai-asia (dot) org
Message from UNEP Regional Office for Asia-Pacific (ROAP)
Surendra Shrestha
Regional Director & Representative, UNEP ROAP
"Climate change is the defining issue of our era. It is for this reason that the World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is "Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy". The major driving forces of atmospheric emissions in countries of the Asia-Pacific region are the industrial, transport, power generation and domestic sectors that have put increasing demand on energy production and consumption to meet the requirements of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Atmospheric emissions results into atmospheric issues at local, regional, hemispheric and even global levels. Air pollution (both indoor and outdoor) is also one of the major environmental issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Initiatives to control the air pollution at various levels also contribute to mitigate the climate change issue. In the Asia-Pacific region, UNEP established collaboration with CAI-Asia in addressing the local air pollution issues. BAQ 2008, which stands as the largest gathering on urban air pollution, one of the local air pollution issues in the region, will be an appropriate forum for those who are interested in air pollution and climate change to attend and discuss the co-benefits of addressing both issues, thereby creating win-win solutions."
Message from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Siva Thampi
Director, Environment and Sustainable Development Division, ESCAP
"The Bali Conference on Climate Change became a milestone through its adoption of the Bali Action Plan. Implementing the plan will require more proactive participation by both developed and developing countries in mitigation and adaptation actions. These actions need not be pursued in isolation, but need to contribute to achieving development goals, and be integral part of sustainable development strategies. This clearly illustrates the need to pursue economic growth that is compatible with the environmental sustainability, for which ESCAP’s Green Growth approach clearly addresses win-win solutions in achieving goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation, air pollution and other environmental challenges, and socio-economic development needs faced by the rapidly growing Asian and the Pacific countries. Our hope is that BAQ 2008 will provide meaningful directions in scaling up effective national responses to climate change, and in adopting Green Growth policies and strategies."
