- South Asian countries agreed to deepen cooperation on air pollution through stronger monitoring, information sharing and a new five-year work programme under the Malé Declaration.
- The 17th regional government meeting, held over two days in Malé City, was jointly organised by SACEP and the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific.
- The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy said hosting the meeting reflected the Maldives' commitment to environmental protection and regional cooperation.
South Asian countries have agreed to deepen regional cooperation on air pollution, including through stronger monitoring systems, improved information sharing and a new five-year work programme under the Malé Declaration.
The commitments were discussed during the 17th regional government meeting on the Malé Declaration, held over two days in Malé City. The meeting focused on air pollution and its cross-border effects across South Asia.
The meeting was jointly organised by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme and the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific. Representatives reviewed ways to strengthen the declaration and coordinate sustainable responses to air pollution across the region.
Participating countries identified air pollution as a shared regional challenge requiring coordinated action. Discussions centred on the priorities and activities to be carried out over the next five years, including the use of modern technology to improve air quality monitoring and the exchange of environmental information.
The proposed measures are expected to support countries in assessing pollution trends, identifying cross-border impacts and developing more coordinated responses to declining air quality.
The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy said the Maldives’ hosting of the meeting reflected the government’s commitment to environmental protection and greater regional cooperation.
The Malé Declaration provides a regional framework for South Asian countries to address air pollution and its transboundary impacts through research, monitoring, capacity development and information exchange.
