The Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Hosting of Better Air Quality Workshop 2008 (BAQ 2008)
Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, announces that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) together with the Pollution Control Department and the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center will host the Better Air Quality (BAQ 2008) Workshop. 12 – 14 November 2008 at the Imperial Queens Park Hotel in Bangkok. The theme of the event is “Air Quality and Climate Change: Scaling up Win – Win Solutions for Asia”. The workshop’s objectives are to exchange knowledge on technology as well as efficiency enhancement methods on air pollution management among countries and international organizations; to enhance skills of the Thai officials in air quality management; and to create leadership in air quality management in the Asian region. More importantly, the workshop will help push forward the solutions for air pollutions and the global warming problem which derives from increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The impact of the global warming phenomenon leads to the change in people’s way of living. Bangkok is one of the major cities releasing greenhouse gases at a high level with the increasing trend in the future if no efficient and sustainable measures for reducing greenhouse gases are employed. The participants in this workshop include experts, academic, and operators in the air quality management field from Asian countries as well as the experts from Europe and America. It is expected that around 1,000 people will take part. The Workshop is being held in Thailand for the first time after being held in Hong Kong in 2002, the Philippines in 2003, India in 2004, and Indonesia in 2006.
Today, in order to ensure the readiness for the preparation for the Workshop, the Memorandum of Understanding regarding roles, responsibilities, and support for the organization of BAQ 2008 during 12 – 14 November 2008 is signed in Bangkok between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Pollution Control Department, and CAI-Asia.
From left: Masa Ichimura (Environmental Section Chief, ESCAP); Hiroshi Nishimiya (Deputy Director, UNEP ROAP); Cornie Huizenga (Executive Director, CAI-Asia Center); Apirak Kosayodhin (Governor of Bangkok); Rathapol Meethanatharvorn (Deputy Permanent Secretary for BMA); Supat Wangwongwatana (Director General, PCD); Banasopit Mekvichai (Deputy Governor of Bangkok)
