Session 2. High Level Plenary: Build Back Better for Healthy Air, Healthy Planet

Air pollution is one of the key environmental crises in Asia and the Pacific, with 92 per cent or 4 billion people exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. We have the solutions to beat air pollution, but they must be used to benefit not only on human health but also transform energy, leading to sustainable consumption and production, and leading to effective climate action.

There is encouraging progress in improving air quality, but there is still work to be done. Recent estimates show that population-weighted fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in half of the countries in the region have declined since 2015.

Asia Pacific can lead the transformative action towards better air quality, capitalizing on momentum for clean air on building back better, committing to carbon neutrality, and strengthening cooperation on clean air.

This high-level session will discuss the how regional governments and organisations are working together to scale-up clean air solutions to beat air pollution, protect people’s health, contribute to carbon neutrality, and support green and zero carbon recovery. It will build understanding on the importance to accelerating clean air efforts and discuss how to ensure existing clean air commitments and plans become a reality through innovation and partnerships in policy and governance, technology, digital transformation, and finance.