This book examines the capabilities for monitoring air quality, developing emission inventories, and running chemical-transport models for regulatory, forecasting, and research purposes in Southeast Asia. It also reviews scientific efforts made to better understand and characterize air pollution in the region. Poor air quality poses a threat to public health. It affects people's lives and undermines economic growth, but as in many other parts of the world, it has been overlooked in Southeast Asia. International assessments suggest that it is the culprit of 335-thousand premature deaths in the region each year, entailing a monetary cost equivalent to 6.75% of the regional GDP. Reducing air pollution requires concerted efforts from all Southeast Asian nations to implement local and regional air quality policies following a science-policy approach. For such endeavor, it is essential to develop tools that enable timely and reliable air quality management. This entails collecting data to characterize the magnitude, origin, and impact of air pollution to support corrective actions. The objective of this book is to provide a starting point for a science-based conversation about implementing solutions to Southeast Asia's air pollution problem by bringing together an analysis of the availability of air quality data and studies from across the region.

Autorentext

Erik Velasco: Research scientist with over 20 years of experience doing applied research in atmospheric sciences. He has led studies and participated in collaborative field campaigns to investigate the impact of urbanization and climate change on air quality, micrometeorology, and the emission of greenhouse gases. His findings have contributed to air quality and climate change mitigation programs, as well as improving public transportation plans and efforts to reduce urban warming. He studied mechanical and environmental engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and received his Ph.D from Washington State University. He has worked for research institutions in Mexico, the United States, and Singapore.

Armando Retama: Over 30 years of experience as an air quality monitoring specialist. He has contributed to improve air quality monitoring in Mexico and Latin America. For 16 years, he oversaw Mexico City's air quality monitoring network. He consolidated the network and made it the backbone of the city's environmental management to address the threat posed by air pollution, becoming it one of Latin America's most important and reliable networks. He also conducts research on the subject, specializing in atmospheric chemistry. He studied chemistry at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Dimitris Stratoulias: Senior scientist and data expert with more than 15 years of experience in academic and non-profit organizations. He is leading evidence-based R&D efforts and guiding geospatial information services for Earth Observation programs through the development of data streams, machine learning algorithms, real time information systems, science, and advocacy. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Remote Sensing from the University of Leicester awarded with a Marie Curie fellowship, a M.Sc. in GIS from the University of Edinburgh, and a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Athens. He has been living in 10 countries across Europe and Asia.