The World Bank together with the United States Environmental Protection Agency hosted an interactive technical workshop on improving measurement of air quality in low- and middle-income countries. Participants at the workshop explored a spectrum of technical strategies, ranging from satellite remote sensing and ground-level monitoring to emerging air sensors, to increase air quality data availability and support countries’ policy needs.
The World Bank together with the United States Environmental Protection Agency hosted an interactive technical workshop on improving measurement of air quality in low- and middle-income countries. Participants at the workshop explored a spectrum of technical strategies, ranging from satellite remote sensing and ground-level monitoring to emerging air sensors, to increase air quality data availability and support countries’ policy needs.
The meeting culminated with the initiation of a white paper that will aim to provide preliminary guidance, for low and middle income (LMICs) countries, on the application of various data and methods to air quality policy design and implementation, particularly those focused on improving public health.
Workshop participants included representatives from government, private sector, multilateral organizations, and academic institutions in Bolivia, Canada, El Salvador, Germany, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, United States of America, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
The agenda included the following presentations:
D1C: Technical Perspectives and needs assessment from LMIC countries
Technical Perspectives and Needs Assessment from Eastern and Southern Africa, Professor Sara Feresu, Air Pollution Information Network for Africa (APINA) Secretariat, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Air Quality Measurement in LMICs: Practical Perspective from Accra, Ghana and Elsewhere, Raphael Arku, Sc.D., University Of British Columbia, Canada
Air Quality Measurement in South Africa: Policy Design and Implementation, Dr. Thuli Khumalo,National Air Quality Officer, Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa
D1D: Policy and decision-making objectives, requirements, and gaps
Air Quality – Mexico’s National Strategy, Rodolfo Lacy, Ministry Of Environment, Mexico
Policy and Decision-Making Objectives, Requirements, And Gaps for Air Quality Measurement in Peru, Luis Antonio Ibañez Guerrero, Ministerio Del Ambiente, Peru
Policy and Decision-Making Objectives, Requirements, And Gaps for Air Quality Measurement in Kenya, Dr. Pacifica Achieng, Director of Climate Change Programmes Coordination, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya
D1E: Perspectives from Implementing/Funding Organizations
World Bank Perspective, Yewande Aramide Awe, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank
WHO’s Air Quality and Health Programme, Heather Adair-Rohani, World Health Organization
UN – Environment – Air Quality, Jason Jabbour (on behalf of Sean Khan) United Nations Environment Programme
D2B: Perspectives on the State of the Science: Ground based and exposure measurements
Perspectives on Ground Based Measurements for Developing Countries, Jamie Schauer, PhD, PE, MBA, Director, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin – Madison
New Developments in Policy-relevant Air Monitoring, Josh Apte, PhD., Assistant Professor, University of Texas – Austin
Assessing Personal Exposure to Air Pollution, Darby Jack, Columbia University
D2C: Perspectives on the State of the Science and Implications for Development: Satellite and remote sensing measurements
Perspectives on Application of Satellite and Remote Sensing Measurements for Ground-level Fine PM, Randall Martin, Dalhousie University
Steps towards the operational quantification of boundary air pollution from satellite: current status, challenge and perspective: Focus on aerosol / Particulate Matter (and Gases), John Burrows – University Of Bremen, Germany
D2D: Data Integration and Management
SAFAR – India Air Quality Service, Gufran Beig, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Experiences and Considerations in Air Quality Data Management - U.S. EPA's AirNow Program, John White – US EPA/AirNow
D2E: Innovations in Air Quality Data
Satellite Data of Air Quality, Bryan Duncan, NASA
Filling the Data Gap Through Open Data and a Global, Grassroots Community, Christa Hasenkopf, PhD., OpenAQ
Weather Underground, Kourosh Karimkhany, Weather Underground
