Workshop & Training

International Expert Meeting on Improving Air Quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

4 Jun 2013 Beijing, The People's Republic of China
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The PRC faces severe regional air pollution. Of particular concern are PM2.5—particles that are 2.5 micrometers in size or smaller—which remain persistently high in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, posing threats to health and quality of life. The meeting brought 25 government, research institute, and NGO air-quality experts from seven countries to exchange their experience in other developed and developing countries, with the aim of establishing effective policies and methods for improving air quality. The workshop discussed issues such as the reasons for and the health impacts of high PM2.5 levels, the gathering and storage of data, and policies on how to best tackle severe air pollution.

Agenda:

TimeProgram
09:00 – 10:15Welcoming Remarks (Chair Person)
Li Pei, Deputy Director General, Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Welcoming Remarks
Hamid Sharif, Country Director, ADB PRC Resident Mission

Air Quality Management and Policy Goals in the PRC
Wang Xin, Director, Division I, Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection

Policy Suggestions for Achieving Higher Standards of Air Quality
He Kebin, Executive Vice-President, Tsinghua Graduate School and Professor of School of Environment, Tsinghua University
10:15 – 10:30Group Picture and Tea/Coffee Break
10:30 – 12:30Session 1: Emergency Air Pollution Planning

Moderator: Zhao Lijian, Program Director, China Sustainable Energy Program

Status and challenges of emergency episode planning in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region (15min)
Chai Fahe, Vice-President, Chinese Research Academy for Environmental Sciences

London’s approach to emergency air pollution episodes (15min)
Benjamin Barratt, King’s College London

EU air quality directive and the implementation in Cities (15min)
Axel Friedrich, Former Chairman of the OECD Working Group on Transport and Founding Member of the International Council for Clean Transportation

Discussion led by moderator:

  • Key elements to address emergency air pollution episodes

  • Steps to develop an emergency air pollution plan for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 16:00Session 2: Medium and Long-Term Paths to Reduce PM2.5 Concentrations

Moderator: Benjamin Barratt, King’s College London

Air quality management plan requirements for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (15min)
Yang Jintian, Deputy Chief Engineer of Environmental Planning Institute, MEP

US approach to regional air quality management (15min)
Dale Evarts, Group Leader, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, US Environmental Protection Agency
Chris James, Principal, China and U.S. Programs, Regulatory Assistance Project

Discussion led by moderator:

  • Legal solutions

  • Institutional solutions

  • Capacity issues

  • Sector specific solutions
16:00 – 16:15 Tea/Coffee Break
16:15 – 17:00Wrap-Up Session: What Did We achieve? What Shall Be Proposed?
Moderator: Wang Xin, Director, MEP and Jörn Brömmelhörster, Coordinator, RKSI

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