Harmonising actions for cleaner air across borders – sharing solutions for a shared problem

Air respects no borders, nor does the pollution it carries. When crop residues are burned in one area, the resulting smog does not stay put – it spreads across borders, choking the skies over neighbouring regions, states, and countries, reminding us that air quality is a shared problem. This is particularly true in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and Himalayan Foothills (HF) where air pollution has been rapidly increasing, leading to significant declines in air quality over the past two decades. The IGP-HF is a huge region, spanning much of northern and eastern India, Pakistan, and Nepal’s southern lowlands, running parallel to the Himalaya mountains.

A ‘perfect storm’ of factors makes this area particularly susceptible to air pollution, including the geographical and meteorological conditions – particularly the huge plain where transboundary pollution is shared, flanked by high mountains that serve to ‘trap’ the pollution in the area. This is combined with rapid urban growth, residential emissions, industrial development, and agricultural practices, including the burning of crop residues.

Pollutants like particulate matter (PM), ozone (O₃), black carbon (BC), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and carbon monoxide (CO) released or formed in one area easily cross borders, making the IGP-HF region one of the most polluted in the world, with impacts across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). Recent studies have highlighted a significant increase in methane emissions, which is accelerating climate change and contributing to the rise of ground-level ozone. These pollutants not only degrade air quality but also disrupt weather patterns, alter biodiversity and accelerate glacier melt through atmospheric warming or related processes. Efforts to address air pollution and climate change are gaining momentum across all levels – from individual actions to large-scale government initiatives.

Regional harmonisation

The transboundary nature of this issue calls for coordinated efforts across borders to tackle shared air quality challenges. However, each country or region has its own mechanisms, policies, and regulations for addressing air pollution. This includes using diverse methodologies and frameworks for air quality monitoring, leading to disparities in measurement and reporting. This is where regional harmonisation becomes crucial. Just as a musical harmony combines different notes being played at once, so ‘harmonising’ actions from different levels of governments, departments and experts requires all these groups to listen to the others and combine efforts so that they work together more easily. Implementing actions within an airshed – or a geographic area sharing common air flow and pollution patterns – can only be truly effective when these actions are synchronised and harmonised across regions and across local, provincial and national governments, commonly referred to as ‘jurisdictions’.

Regional harmonisation can bring countries together, aligning their policies and practices to jointly monitor, control, and mitigate air pollution. Such a coordinated approach is essential for effectively tackling transboundary air pollution and ensuring a healthier environment for all.

Good examples – in practice

Regional harmonisation in addressing air pollution has already been proven effective through various successful initiatives across the world. These efforts highlight the importance of standardised practices in air quality management. One notable example is the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, which has led to a reduction of sulphur oxides (SO_x) emissions by up to 95% in its member countries since the early 1980s. This achievement showcases the power of coordinated international action. The European Union’s common air quality standards, which apply uniformly across member states, ensure consistent and agreed methodologies for measurement, reporting, and mitigation strategies of air pollution. This approach, echoed by initiatives like the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and Canada’s National Air Pollution Surveillance Program, underscores the critical role of uniform standards in achieving cleaner air.

Another notable example is the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), which began in 1998 as an intergovernmental cooperation programme aimed at monitoring acid deposition, also known as acid rain, and its impact on natural ecosystems across East Asia and the western Pacific. Currently, 13 of 16 East Asian countries participate in EANET, sharing data and working together to understand distribution of pollutants and its effects. This network exemplifies good practice in fostering regional harmonisation in air quality management through collaborative monitoring, data sharing, and joint research, helping to mitigate acid deposition and improve environmental health across the region.

In South Asia, the 1998 Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution has facilitated collaboration among eight South Asian countries by promoting coordinated research, monitoring, and policy development to combat transboundary air pollution. Lessons learned from this declaration could provide valuable insights for other regional cooperative efforts and ensure their sustainability in the South Asian context. ICIMOD is committed to taking lessons forward to advance coordinated efforts to address transboundary air pollution in South Asia.

Constructive conversations on air quality management

In 2022, ICIMOD with the World Bank organised the First Science–Policy Dialogue on air quality management in the IGP-HF in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, to advance the airshed approach and regional harmonisation. This dialogue highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan to improve air quality in the IGP-HF. It proposed several key actions, including developing a regional framework for air quality improvement by 2030, sharing science-based air quality management (AQM) experiences, and building regional analytical capacity. The dialogue also emphasised the importance of regular meetings for policy coordination and knowledge exchange.

Building on the Kathmandu roadmap, ICIMOD and partners held the second regional Science–Policy Dialogue on air quality management in the IGP-HF in Bhutan in June 2024. A significant result from this event was the ‘Thimphu Outcome’ with eleven crucial recommendations for the IGP-HF region. To address some of the challenges, the Thimphu Outcome recommends implementing the Kathmandu roadmap through national and sub-national clean air programmes. It suggests setting an aspirational goal of reducing annual PM_2.5 levels to less than 35 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³) by 2035, forming a technical committee to create a coordinated structure for developing air quality management (AQM) strategies, sharing knowledge through a common platform, leveraging funding for green technologies, and building capacity among various stakeholders.

Challenges, complexities and issues

Although regional harmonisation could be transformative for the IGP-HF in addressing air pollution, it is an undeniably complex task. Some of the following challenges may arise during regional harmonisation:

Political, bureaucratic, and regulatory complexities: Given the realities on the ground, the harmonisation process among countries in the IGP-HF region is often challenged by intricate bureaucratic procedures, different legal frameworks, and evolving political landscapes. The complex government structures, along with varying national policies, shifting priorities, and political tensions, add layers of complexity to regional cooperation, making it more challenging to achieve consensus and foster collaboration.

Data comparability: Inconsistent data collection practices, measurement methods, and reporting standards can undermine the accuracy and comparability of shared air quality information. Uniform data collection and analysis is challenging due to differing measurement units, reporting formats, and methodologies.

Disparities in capacities and resources: Variations in institutional capacities, funding mechanisms, and technological infrastructure can impact the implementation of harmonised strategies. A lack of consensus on the allocation of resources can further complicate efforts to establish common systems and data-sharing platforms.

Communication and coordination challenges: Effective collaboration and knowledge sharing are often hindered by the complexity of addressing multiple pollutants, diverse sources, and varied impacts. Although these elements are interconnected, a lack of harmonisation in communication and coordination can lead to a fragmented approach. What is essential is creating a coherent, unified strategy that ensures different stakeholders working on various aspects of the issue are aligned, avoiding a perception of disjointed or chaotic efforts.

Socio-cultural and historical issues: Cultural differences, societal norms, and public perceptions play significant roles in the acceptance and implementation of harmonised measures. Building trust and balancing regional cooperation with the priorities of neighbouring regions, states, and countries can be challenging, particularly where conflict may exist between participating nations.

Advancing regional harmonisation

To achieve regional harmonisation for effective and sustainable air quality actions, we need to focus on several key areas:

Standardisation of monitoring and reporting: Establish uniform and consistent protocols for data comparisons across borders, including common data reporting formats and methodologies.

Data sharing and collaborative knowledge generation: Facilitate the exchange of air quality data and information across regions through formal and informal arrangements. Focus on generating, synthesising, and sharing actionable knowledge that can directly inform policy and on-the-ground interventions.

Public awareness and coherent messaging: Implement a unified and consistent strategy to raise awareness and educate the public on air quality issues. Ensure that the messaging is clear, accessible, and resonates with diverse audiences across regions, promoting a cohesive understanding and engagement with air quality challenges.

Policy harmonisation: Align regulatory frameworks by establishing cross-border regulatory bodies, harmonising policies through proper legal instruments, and creating unified enforcement mechanisms for air quality control across jurisdictions.

Technology transfer and capacity building: Facilitate collaboration on sustainable air control technologies, share best practices, and invest in capacity-building efforts to ensure all regions have the tools needed to implement effective solutions.

Solution and implementation harmonisation: Ensure that all regions work towards aligned and coherent solutions, from technology use to public health interventions, creating a unified approach that avoids fragmented efforts.

Reaching our commitment to cleaner air

Through harmonised efforts, we can achieve significant improvements in air quality, benefiting public health, reducing the impact on ecosystems, and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient environment for future generations. ICIMOD’s programme called ‘Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action’ (HI-REAP), funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, works to promote Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for socio-ecological resilience, low-carbon economies, and improved air quality in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and building on knowledge and learning from China. Experts from our Air team lead the component on air quality and are committed to advancing regional harmonisation in tackling air pollution across the HKH and the IGP-HF. The goal is to enhance understanding of air pollutant emissions, atmospheric processes, and their impacts, while promoting collaborative mitigation efforts and policy solutions. We are working to align the efforts of our regional member countries, seizing emerging opportunities to address the growing challenges of air pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. Regional harmony may come with challenges, but with strong leadership, open dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to cleaner air, it is well within our reach.