Previous group: Air Quality and Air Pollution Management in Urban Areas in Less Developed Countries

A constituent meeting was held on September 7, 2007 at Department of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen. The meeting was intended to discuss how the working group will address the complexity of air pollution management in the growing urban spheres in less developed countries; and how research institutions, universities, and private companies can initiate a more progressive role in development aid and capacity development in relation to air pollution.

Introduction: Air pollution is no longer an issue that is solely considered in the context of the major industrial nations, but is increasingly being linked with the polluted urban centres and industrial areas of Asia, Southern Africa and Latin America.

The working group will address the complexity of air pollution management in the growing urban sphere in the less developed countries, and will discus and evaluate how Danish and Scandinavian research institution, universities and private companies can initiate a more progressive role in development aid and capacity development in relation to air pollution.

The goal is to form a basis for a common Danish strategy on reduction of air pollution annoyances and possible health impacts in relation to air pollution exposure for inhabitants in the developing countries. In a longer timeframe, the working group is expected to consider the need for forming joint projects and research collaboration as well as consider a number of recommendations for Danida air pollution management.

The main objective for the working group is to set up a multi-disciplinary forum for a critical review of existing information on air quality and air pollution management in Asia, Southern Africa and Latin America.

The working group will also concentrate on:

• Improving international cooperation and research activities and improve the linkages between scientists and policy makers in Asia, Southern Africa and Latin America.
• Improving knowledge of air pollution impact on human health, biodiversity, crop yield and acidification.
• Implement and develop integrated assessment and economic assessments in order to assess air quality management.
• Develop a comprehensive strategy and specific action plan for improving the scientific knowledge on the complexity problems of urban air pollution in the less developed world. The findings will form the basis for suggestions for an integrated assessment system.
• Support for decision and policy guidelines regarding air quality problems.
  Improving the knowledge of the atmospheric processes governing pollutant dispersion and human exposure, improving emission inventories, monitoring and modelling acquaintance.