16:00 – 17:30 - Auditorium 3
 

BACKGROUND

The burning of residues and other wastes from agricultural lands and processes leads to pollutant emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change. Seasonal crop residue burning is identified as a major contributor of air pollution in different parts of Asia. Ambient PM2.5 exposure due to crop residue burning is specifically associated with a three-fold greater risk of acute respiratory infection. Open burning of biomass contributes about 37% of total global black carbon including burning of forest, savannah and agricultural residue.

While various measures have been undertaken by countries across Asia to address agricultural open burning, stakeholders continue to innovate with solutions that are effective, scalable, and sustainable. This session will provide an update on the extent and impacts of open burning in Asia, and the efforts and solutions being made on the ground.

OBJECTIVE

This session aims to provide an overview of the extent and impact of open burning across Asia and the Pacific and the response of governments. Case studies addressing agricultural waste burning will be showcased and solutions that are scalable and sustainable will be discussed by regional experts.

SESSION ORGANIZERS

Thailand Pollution Control Department, GIZ , Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

PROGRAMME
 

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Ekachai Lojanaphiwat, GIZ

OPENING: Overview on the state of transboundary haze
pollution in SEA

Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University

PRESENTATIONS

  • Using forecasting data to improve access to air quality information and agricultural open burning hotspots - Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj, APCD
  • Response of governments such as the sub-regional cooperation among countries in the Mekong Region - Dr. Sirirat Yensong, Pollution Control Department, Thailand (Virtual)
  • Solutions and challenges to agricultural open burning - Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University

Q & A

  • Case studies of technology applications and/or solutions - Tobias Breunig, GIZ
  • Takachar’s Scalable Solution; Turning biomass waste into carbon-negative bioproducts - Vidyut Mohan, Co-founder, Takachar*
  • Transforming Asia’s Largest Waste into a Clean Air & Climate Solution - Craig Jamieson, Director & Founder, Straw Innovations Ltd

PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator: Ekachai Lojanaphiwat,GIZ

Panelists:

  • Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University
  • Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj, APCD
  • Tobias Breunig GIZ
  • Vidyut Mohan, Takachar *
  • Craig Jamieson, Director & Founder, Straw Innovations Ltd


*To be confirmed