A primary goal of the Union is to contribute to the development of effective mitigation policies to address air pollution across the world, and, in particular its international and trans-boundary dimensions. These policies are set within our over-arching goal of a ‘One Atmosphere’ approach which integrates the two inter-related dimensions of atmospheric policy – ground-level pollution and climate change.
The Union’s work to explore and promote policy proposals is centred on its triennial congresses and ultimately expressed in the statements and closing declarations that emerge from them. Rather than detailed commitments by individual members, these statements and declarations represent he broad consensus of views within the Union on necessary directions of change and on policy priorities.
Summary of Outcomes of the 2016 World Congress and the Congress Closing Declaration
TURNING VISION INTO ACTION
Cape Town Declaration defines Union’s priorities for next three years:
For the full text of the Declaration, click here….
In its Final Declaration, the XVth World Clean Air Congress held in Vancouver, September 2010, concluded that global environmental challenges had in recent years become steadily more severe and pressing, and that in three principle areas a paradigm shift in the approach to air quality policy and its relation to the wider global environment, was now necessary, urgent and achievable. It urged a new focus on the impacts of air pollution on the health of eco-systems and biodiversity; a new approach to climate change which, through integrating climate and air pollution policies, would complement the current focus on long-term abatement of CO2 with a wider initiative on other climate forcing gases - ozone, methane and black carbon - which could deliver both major health benefits and mitigate near-term climate change; and, underpinning these two, a new effort to strengthen the institutions and processes for international co-operation on air pollution.
Key Conference Themes:
For full details and to register click here.
Under the title ‘One Atmosphere’ the Final Declaration of the XVth World Clean Air Congress called for radical new directions in international air pollution policy to help tackle the multiple and inter-linked environmental challenges facing the world.
Fundamental to the new approach are three paradigm shifts in current policy priorities:
Commenting on the declaration, Richard Mills, Director General, said:
‘The Declaration is an agenda for changes in air pollution priorities which are necessary, urgent - and deliverable.
Within its own comfort zone, Air Pollution regulation has been one of the most effective areas of environment policy. But it is now failing to contribute adequately to the other major environmental challenges of the day: preserving ecosystems and biodiversity; contributing to mitigation of climate change, particularly in the short-term; and creating the effective regional, hemispheric and global frameworks for atmospheric policy without which states will be steadily less able to protect the health and well-being of their people.
Progress in these areas is now necessary, timely - and achievable’
For a copy of the Declaration click here.
Under the title ‘One Atmosphere’ the Congress Declaration and Report will highlight the need for three paradigm shifts in Air and Environment policy:
Links with Biodiversity emerge as major theme of the Congress
Message to Congress from Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biodiversity highlights need to forge new links between policies to abate air pollution and to protect ecosystems and biodiversity.
Click here for a copy of the Message.
For your copy of the World Congress Update 2, click here.
This first issue highlights why attendance at the 15th World Clean Air Congress should not be missed and brings together some key congress issues:
For your copy of the World Congress Update 1, click here.
Copenhagen Climate Talks
It has been difficult to make out whether or not we made progress at the Copenhagen climate talks in December 2009. The 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN FCCC, certainly failed to match the scale of the climate challenge. The scientific consensus was and is that significant cuts in emission of greenhouse gases are required and that the longer the world community put off a decision, the greater the risk of dangerous climate change in future. However, there was a mountain to climb: although some parties had well prepared positions, it became clear that there were too many with extreme political difficulties.
The outcome is a rather mixed bag of good intentions recorded in the Copenhagen Accord, including provisions for each party to the FCCC to give either clear commitments to the reduction of greenhouse gases or a clear statement of measures to be taken, provisions for a US$30 billion fund to finance measures in those countries least able to afford them and provisions for improved measures to prevent deforestation and forest degradation.
However, it appears that the agreement has failed its first test as the deadline for submission of targets and measures, 31 January 2010, has been postponed.
For a more comprehensive report please see the February edition of the IUAPPA Newsletter. Click here for your copy.
The IUAPPA International Board met in conjunction with the 2009 Tunis Regional Conference on Sunday 22 and Tuesday 24 November.
Board members heard from the IUAPPA President, Alan Gertler (AWMA), about the programme for the 2010 World Congress, which is to be held in Vancouver on 12 to 16 September. Visit www.iuappa2010.com for full details.
Progress reports were given on the Global Atmospheric Forum and on the Transport and Urban Air Quality Management Seminar series. Board members had a first sight of the new format for the website prior to its introduction and heard proposals for a possible new edition of the IUAPPA compendium of legislation and practice, Clean Air Around the World.
Encouraged by the Tunis Regional Conference, the Board agreed that Regional meetings were an excellent means of reaching out to new members and exploring topics that resonated on a regional level.
For further information please see the February edition of the IUAPPA Newsletter. Click here for your copy.
Better Air Quality in North Africa
November 2009 saw the IUAPPA Regional Conference on “Better Air Quality in North Africa”, organised by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory in Tunis. It was the first opportunity for IUAPPA and the Global Air Pollution Forum to meet with representatives from the North African countries to consider and discuss the issues raised by air pollution in the region and measures to deal with them.
Overall the participants, including delegations from all six North African Countries, many other parts of Africa and representatives from some eight international bodies, heard over 40 presentations during the three days of the Regional Conference. It was pleasing to see so many civil societies at the meeting, including the IUAPPA member organisation, Women for Sustainable Development.
For a full report see the February edition of the IUAPPA Newsletter. Click here for your copy.