BAQ 2008 Young Voices Award on Urban Air Pollution and Climate Change

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) encourages new thinking and approaches to deal with the problems of urban air pollution and climate change in Asia. So far, traditional approaches used in dealing with these problems have not produced enough results nor are seen to create significant impacts in the future. It is therefore important to consult with the next generation of air quality and climate changes policy makers, experts and managers.

After a call for participation was announced in June, around 25 undegraduate and graduate students from Asian universities and outside Asia, submitted their think pieces on new policies and approaches to address air pollution and climate change in Asia. After careful selection of all the papers, CAI-Asia is pleased to announce the Four Young Voices on AQM and Climate Change in Asia - Jun Wang, Rong Wang, Andrew Stevenson and Deepty Jain. Aside from receiving their awards during the Better Air Quality 2008 Workshop (12-14 November 2008), the four students will present their ideas during a subworkshop session on 14 November 2008.

Jun Wang is a student of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering in Nankai University, China. Jun Wang's entry to the YVA focuses on the importance of the conversion of science to policy  in air quality management as he argues that results of scientific research only makes sense when applied to policy, lest it remains a self-entertainment in the laboratory. Jun Wang proposes an ASH principle to the problem. 

Rong Wang is a student of the College of Environmental Sciences, Peking University in China. Rong Wang's entry to the YVA focuses on managing urban air quality beyond the boundaries of the cities. Rong Wang cites the result of his simulation of the pollution source for Beijing whereby regional pollution contributed about 80% of the PM10 in the city.

Andrew Stevenson is a student of the Hong Kong University Centre of Urban Planning and Environmental Management in Hong Kong. Andrew's entry to the YVA discusses the issues, challenges  and specific measures to achieveing  an integrated approach to development, energy, climate mitigation and air quality management polices in Asian cities.

Deepty Jain is a student of the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in Enschede, Netherlands and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) in Ahmedabad, India. Deepty's entry to the YVA discusses the opportunities of using transport impact assessment and institutional changes  in addressing air pollution in the cities.

We congratulate all of the winners!!

--
Cornie Huizenga
Executive Director
CAI-Asia Center

Background and rules

Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) encourages new thinking and approaches to deal with the problems of urban air pollution and climate change in Asia. So far, traditional approaches used in dealing with these problems have not produced enough results nor are seen to create significant impacts in the future. It is therefore important to consult with the next generation of air quality and climate changes policy makers, experts and managers.

The 2008 Young Voices Award on Urban Air Pollution and Climate Change (the Young Voices) will be handed out for the first time at BAQ 2008.

Eligible for the Young Voices award are full/part - time students currently enrolled at Universities or Colleges in an academic degree (undergraduate or advanced degree) program in a subject that is of relevance to urban air pollution and climate change in Asia. The maximum age at the time of BAQ 2008 (12-14 November, 2008) is 25 years. There is no geographical restriction on participation in this competition and students from all over the world can participate. The award committee will however consider the ideas submitted for their relevance for Asia. If applications are submitted on behalf of a group the application form should clearly indicate who the person is who will present at BAQ 2008 if the awards committee selects the submission as one of the winners.

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