KUCHING, Nov 4 — The government is finalising the National Clean Air Action Plan 2025-2040 (NCAAP) to address challenges related to national air quality.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said NCAAP, which was developed in the earlier Clean Air Action Plan 2010, was designed to enhance Malaysia’s ambient air quality and serves as a guide to drive unified efforts to achieve better air quality.
“The development of the NCAAP involves collaboration with stakeholders such as government bodies, the private sector, industry players, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, and others,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony of 13th Asian Aerosol Conference 2024 here today.
The deputy minister noted that urban areas are expanding rapidly due to economic growth, increased population, and migration from rural areas to cities, resulting in high aerosol concentrations.
He said the increased concentrations of atmospheric aerosols, especially those originating from biomass burning, fossil-fuel combustion, and industrial emissions have become the main climate issue in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
“With ongoing research and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and international partners, Malaysia is well-positioned to make significant strides in understanding and managing the complex issues related to aerosols,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said Sarawak’s unique geographical landscape provides an opportunity to study the effects of aerosols on climate change and atmospheric processes.
“We are actively collaborating with international research institutions to develop climate adaptation strategies that consider aerosol-climate interactions, which are crucial for predicting rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and forest health,” he said in his speech to officiate the event. His speech text was read out by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Themed “Synergizing Aerosol Science, Technology, Policy, and Practice Towards Sustainable Solutions”, the conference garnered over 400 scientists, industry leaders, government agencies, and policymakers from 36 countries to address critical issues in aerosol science.
— Bernama
