Fifth Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum
20-21 March 2025
Yokohama, Japan
Background
The Asia Pacific region continues to be at the forefront of the fight against air pollution. Countries in the region continue to experience the highest levels of ambient fine particulate matter PM2.5. Despite efforts to reduce air pollution in various subregions, most cities continue to experience high levels of ambient air pollution. Improving air quality can bring significant benefits that go beyond health, to confronting other crises such as climate change and sustainable development.
Member States also reinforced the important role of regional cooperation to address air pollution at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in February 2024 with the adoption of a resolution on Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally. The Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) is one of the regional initiatives working to strengthen international cooperation on air quality in Asia Pacific. APCAP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition developed an integrated air quality and climate assessment “Air Pollution in the Asia Pacific: Science-based Solutions” which identified a portfolio of 25 clean air measures focusing on high impact sectors that can deliver benefits for both air quality and climate. Unfortunately, lack of financing is one of the major barriers to effective air pollution action. Despite the significant harm air pollution causes to economies, the planet and to people’s health, clean air efforts remain chronically underfunded. There is a need to mobilize large scale investment for sector-specific mitigation measures that can reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions at local levels.
The Fifth Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership (APCAP) Joint Forum will be held in Yokohama, Japan in a hybrid format on 20 to 21 March 2025. For its fifth edition, the forum will be organized under the theme “Invest in Clean Air Now” in alignment with the 5th International Day of Clean Air for blue skies and hosted by the Ministry of Environment of Japan.
Objective
In support of UNEA Resolution 6/10 on Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally, the Fifth APCAP Joint Forum will aim to:
- Inform the state of air quality in the region and recognize progress made to address air pollution at multiple levels
- Share and exchange innovative solutions reducing emissions with climate co-benefits from high impact sectors with a focus on legislation, technology, and finance
- Facilitate discussion for next phase of APCAP, including future activities and direction
- Inspire and accelerate action through regional and inter-regional cooperation for clean air
Outcome
The key messages, discussions, and recommendations from the Fifth APCAP Joint Forum will be consolidated in a Roadmap for the Third Phase of APCAP and used as main reference for the next phase of the partnership. It will contribute to the Progress Update of the Implementation of UNEA Resolution 6/10 to be submitted at the Seventh Session of UNEA in December 2025 and to the commemoration of the Sixth International Day of Clean Air for blue skies in September 2025.
For more information, please visit https://cleanairweek.org/
