The 10th Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference is being held on 14-16 November in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The BAQ Conference is themed around the core principle of “Regional Action, Global Impact.”

Asia is being pushed into a pivotal role in this sector, with rapid urbanisation coupled withstrong economic growth and increasing environmental demands, a number of countries – among them Malaysia – are striving to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions countrywide. As the organisers says, it is imperative that the region acts to seek ongoing decarbonisation of both economies and lifestyles.

Accordingly, BAQ 2018 will push for a strong pan-Asian call to action and a coming together in ‘a spirit of unanimity’ to build a ‘cleaner, greener, and healthier Asia.’ The conference will emphasise the pressing nature of the challenges and investigate unity and collaboration in the development of new solutions, designs and approaches that will help chart more sustainable future horizons across government, private and academic disciplines.

Speakers will include experts, policymakers and educators from across the whole of Asia, Europe, Australia and even the United Nations Assembly.

BAQ speakers include Toyota’s Vince Socco. Courtesy Toyota.

These include Bert Fabian, who leads the work of UN Environment’s Air Quality and Mobility Unit in Asia-Pacific and coordinates the activities of the Global Fuel Economy Initiative. Prior to joining UNEP in March 2013, he was the Transport Program Manager of Clean Air Asia working on various programs, projects, and studies related to transportation, environment, and urban planning in Asia. Also speaking is Vince Socco – EVP at Toyota Asia Pacific. He is responsible for Toyota’s overall business management across Asia including Brunei, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and is well versed in the latest developments in electric vehicle introduction across SE Asia.

The conference expects over 600 delegates form 55 countries to attend, from as far away as Berlin.

Prof. Brimblecombe will give a holistic view on pollution. Courtesy UoEA.

A panel of almost 250 speakers, moderators and panellists will deliver the latest news and technology research findings on Asian clean air developments over the two days of the conference, looking at ways to influence and bring change in air quality; the top priorities in making cities cleaner, and the opportunities for business as part of the drive to clean up air quality. Indeed, as Prof. He Kebin, Dean of China’s Tsinghua University and one of the key ChangeMakers Forum speakers, noted recently, “… there is a wider recognition of the importance of emissions inventories to air quality management among government authorities beyond environmental protection bureaucrats”.

Other speakers, including Prof. Peter Brimblecombe from the University of East Anglia, U.K, and also City University of Hong Kong, will underline that air quality is not just a measurement and emissions issue, but a much broader threat to quality of life.

He is a vocal proponent of the approach that believes environmental pollution is not merely a matter of environmental chemistry, but that long-term changes in urban air pollution bring effects on health and material damage, the statistical structure of air pollution monitoring data and its implications to policy, the impact of climate change on historic sites and their use, and the environmental chemistry of pharmaceuticals.

To hear these are a wide range of other experts sharing their views on the unique problems facing Asian airspace, check out the details below.

Event: 10th Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference

Dates: 14-16 November 2018

Venue: Borneo Convention Centre, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.