Air pollution has a significant impact on human health and ecosystems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 90% of the population in Asia and the Pacific regularly breathes air, which is considered unsafe, making it a leading global cause of premature deaths. Economic growth and rapid urbanization in the Asia Pacific region have exacerbated air pollution levels.
The Regional Action Programme on Air Pollution (RAPAP), established by ESCAP member States at the seventh session of the Committee on Environment and Development (CED-7) in 2022, aims to improve air quality through cooperative activities among member States. The consultant is expected to deliver a technical assistance strategy to support and accelerate RAPAP’s implementation and mobilize bilateral and multilateral partners’ investments for air quality management.
This project is expected to produce indoor air quality (IAQ) management guidelines to accelerate setting member States’ IAQ standards and monitoring systems, the management regulations at the specific facilities, and public space.
The consultant should have (i) sound knowledge, skills, and experience on issues related to sustainable development, (ii) experience in writing formal documents and working on international environmental issues, and (iii) research skills.
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Environment and Development Policy Section and direct supervision from the NRL expert, the consultant will undertake the following tasks.
• Review the standards on the IAQ of selected countries and general standards led by international organizations at the national and regional levels.
• Identify innovative techniques and management methods to improve IAQ and mitigate the air pollutants that have negative effects on the health of users and residents.
• Develop monitoring methods for indoor air pollutants, IAQ standards, and management guidelines on specific facilities and public spaces that can be applied broadly to applicable member States.
• Draft the policy brief on the introduction of the IAQ management policy and regulation for reference of our member States.