By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
16 March 2026 – The 12th Better Air Quality (BAQ) conference 2026 took place from March 11-13 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, with over 850 policymakers, researchers, development institutions, and civil society representatives from more than 50 countries attending. The event underscored the urgent need to accelerate efforts to address air pollution across Asia and the Pacific.
The conference was organized by Clean Air Asia in collaboration with co-organizers the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and co-hosted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Thailand’s Pollution Control Department (PCD), with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) serving as a key local partner.
The event gathered international expertise under the theme “Together for Clear Skies: Driving Action, Accelerating Investment,” emphasising the transition from commitments to implementation and increasing investment in clean air solutions.
Air pollution remains one of the region’s most pressing challenges, affecting over 90% of the population and contributing to millions of premature deaths globally each year. Thailand faces rising air pollution concerns, especially haze and PM2.5, affecting Bangkok and beyond. Discussions highlighted that clean air must be treated not only as an environmental concern, but as a critical public health, economic, and development priority.
“Air pollution is ultimately about people. It affects pregnant women worried about the air they breathe, older adults whose health may already be fragile, and people with disabilities who face extra challenges in protecting themselves. Clean air should be seen not just as an environmental goal, but as a basic human right,” said Dr. Bindu Lohani, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Clean Air Asia, and Vice Chairman of the AIT Board of Trustees.
Key takeaways from the conference emphasised the need to scale up financing, implement proven solutions across sectors, strengthen city-level action, enhance regional cooperation, and improve data systems for better decision-making. Participants also stressed the importance of aligning air quality efforts with climate action and ensuring that solutions prioritise the well-being of vulnerable communities.
AIT played an active role in supporting the conference and contributing to regional dialogue. Over 30 students from AIT’s Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) program, under the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE), volunteered at both the pre-event on 9–10 March and the main conference, supporting event coordination, assisting international delegates, and facilitating sessions.
Through this hands-on involvement, AIT students gained valuable exposure to global policy discussions, innovative technologies, and collaborative approaches to air quality management. Their participation reflects AIT’s strong commitment to developing future environmental professionals equipped to address complex sustainability challenges at both regional and global levels.
As the conference concluded, participants called for stronger partnerships across governments, institutions, and industries to translate dialogue into action.
