Result of the 10th Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution (TPDAP)

The Tripartite Policy Dialogue on Air Pollution (TPDAP) has been annually held among Japan, Korea, and China, based on the agreement of the 15th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting (TEMM15) in 2013, and the 10th Policy Dialogue was held this time.

(1) Results of the working group meeting
At the working group meeting held ahead of the Policy Dialogue, experts from the three countries shared information and exchanged views under the theme “The Latest Research on Synergistic Control Technologies for Ozone and PM2.5.” The experts cited further research on the relationship between ozone and PM2.5, investigation into factors that affect ozone generation, and countermeasures/actions as challenges commonly faced by the three countries.
A summary of the working group discussion had been reported at the Policy Dialogue.

(2) Information exchange on policies
The three countries shared information and exchanged views on their current air environment management policies.
Japan presented the current status of its air environment and its air environment management policies with a focus on photochemical oxidants, mainly ozone.
Korea presented the current status of its air environment and the direction of its policies, centering on its third comprehensive plan for improving the air environment, and China presented the current status of its prevention and management of air pollution. The three countries also exchanged views on the correlations of ozone and its precursors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with nitrogen oxide (NOx) and countermeasures against ozone as challenges they commonly face.

(3) Future initiatives
Japan proposed that the three countries, which share common challenges in the same East Asian region, should further promote information sharing concerning trans-boundary air pollution and photochemical oxidants, and achieved common understanding on strengthening collaboration.
In addition, Japan proposed to specify a concrete method for sharing the outcomes of this meeting with other countries (3 + X) through other international frameworks, such as the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). Furthermore, Korea proposed collaboration concerning use of satellites for air environment monitoring.

It was decided that the next Policy Dialogue would be held in and hosted by Korea in 2024.

The results of this Policy Dialogue will be reported at the 24th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting among Japan, Korea, and China (TEMM24) to be held this year.