Outcome of the 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia

(1) Date: November 27 and 28, 2024
(2) Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (in-person and online)
(3) Participants:
The delegates from the 13 Participating Countries of EANET (Kingdom of Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Kingdom of
Thailand, and Socialist Republic of Vietnam), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), EANET Secretariat, EANET Network Center, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), observer participants.
From Japan, the officials from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and others participated.
 

(1) Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2026-2030
 The next MTP (2026-2030) is planned to be adopted at IG27 next year, therefore, the possible elements were discussed among the Participating Countries to be included in a draft MTP.
 Japan proposed 1. enhancing access to the existing financial mechanisms, 2. promoting utilization of EANET monitoring data for nitrogen cycle analysis, 3. consideration on sustainable monitoring activities and 4. integrated approach to climate change and air pollution, for them to be included as the main elements, of the next MTP.
 Mutual understandings were developed among the Participating Countries on possible main elements and the possible steps from the preparation to the adoption of the next MTP are agreed.

(2) Strengthening of the operating/administrative structure for the EANET
ⅰ. Financial reports
     Financial reports on EANET Project Fund, the Secretariat and the Network Center were delivered.
ⅱ. Work Program and Budget for 2025
     Drafts of the work program and budget for the Secretariat and the Network Center for 2025 were deliberated and approved.

(3) Adoption of EANET projects
 Twelve projects including three projects approved at the previous years as well as the following three projects led and developed by Japan, were tentatively adopted as EANET projects with a condition that the fund allocation to be considered and determined in the first quarter of 2025.
ⅰ. Strengthening Monitoring and Discussion on Nitrogen Cycle and Management within the EANET
ⅱ. Seminar on utilizing Satellite Monitoring including access to Dust and Sand Storm (DSS)
ⅲ. Sharing information on early warning for local and regional air pollution for the Mekong sub-region

(4) Other matters
 UNESCAP expressed interest in possible collaboration with EANET including co-financing during the meeting.

(5) Next IG in 2025
 The plan was shared that the next IG in 2025 could be hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand and held in Bangkok.
 

 IG26 approved to organize additional meetings in order to accelerate the development process of the MTP 2026-2030. MOE Japan will continue to contribute to the implementation of the EANET and play a leading role during the intersessional work period towards the next IG in 2025.