BAQ 2026 urges stronger investment and collaboration to accelerate clean air action across Asia-Pacific

Organized by Clean Air Asia, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), BAQ 2026 brought together participants from 50 countries to address persistent air pollution challenges and advance regional cooperation. 

Anchored on the theme, “Together for Clear Skies: Driving Action, Accelerating Investment,” the conference highlighted that while scientific evidence, policies, and technologies for improving clean air are increasingly available, the key challenge is scaling investments and implementation.

 Mr. Bindu Lohani, Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Clean Air Asia

“We are not gathered here to reinstate the problem. We know the problem. We know many of the solutions. What we need now is speed, scale and investment,” said Dr. Bindu Lohani, then Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Clean Air Asia.

Opportunities and barriers

Discussions throughout the conference emphasized the need to integrate air quality considerations into broader development priorities, which included transport, energy, agriculture, and urban planning. Further, participants identified limited investment-ready projects, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and gaps on technical capacity, especially on the local level. 

The three-day conference highlighted three opportunities to accelerate clean air action: (1) strengthening governance and implementation mechanisms; (2) developing investment-ready projects and financing approaches; and (3) expanding regional collaboration among governments, institutions, and stakeholders. 

Participants also emphasized the importance of addressing air pollution and climate change together, noting that coordinated action must be human-centered and inclusive and can deliver benefits for public health, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

Poster presentation during Day 1 of BAQ

BAQ 2026 concluded with a call for the region to move from dialogue toward delivery by scaling existing solutions, increasing investment, and strengthening cooperation amongst development partners and stakeholders. 

“Air pollution is not merely an environmental issue. It's a public health crisis, an economic crisis, and fundamentally a development crisis. But it is also a crisis we can solve,” Dr. Lohani ended.

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• To access the BAQ 2026 Conference report, click here.
• BAQ 2026 session recordings, presentations, photos, and vidoes are also available on the ADB DevAsia page for the event.