Working Together for Cleaner Air in Southeast Asia: Inside the SEA-AQ Community of Practice

Air pollution doesn't recognize borders. From urban smog hanging over Jakarta to seasonal haze drifting across Sumatra during the dry season, the effects of poor air quality — caused by a variety of sources such as vehicle emissions, coal power, peatland fires and forest clearings — are felt across Indonesia and Southeast Asia. With climate change intensifying the economic and health impacts of poor air quality, action is more urgent than ever.

A joint IIASA–UNEP analysis quantifying the cost of inaction for the ASEAN states warns that if current trends continue, countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia could see up to 2.1% of their GDP lost by 2030 due to rising health costs and declining workforce productivity caused by air pollution. In Jakarta alone — a city of more than 10.7 million people — air pollution is estimated to cause over 10,000 premature deaths each year, along with 5,000 hospitalizations and 7,000 adverse health outcomes in children, based on 2019 data. Across Indonesia, the economic cost of air pollution has been estimated by the World Bank at $220 billion annually — equivalent to 6.6% of its 2019 GDP.

Building a Regional Network for Change

Shared challenges require shared solutions. That's why the Southeast Asia Air Quality Community of Practice (SEA-AQ CoP) was established to foster regional collaboration, peer learning and innovation in addressing air quality, with a focus on Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Funded by the U.S. Department of State from August 2022 to January 2025, and then by WRI for the remainder of 2025, the SEA-AQ CoP has taken a hands-on approach to building regional capacity and knowledge sharing through a strategic mix of online webinars, hybrid workshops and regional dialogues focused on building technical capacity, fostering regional dialogue and translating science into action.

Understanding Our Community: Member Insights and Priorities

Understanding participants’ real-world needs has been an essential component of SEA-AQ CoP’s success, allowing us to build our programming around the specific priorities and challenges voiced by the community itself. Feedback received at the outset of the project through member surveys revealed that air quality managers in the region face numerous challenges, such as limited access to reliable air quality data and forecasting tools; difficulty coordinating across government sectors; weak enforcement of regulations; low public awareness; and resource constraints — including funding, time and staff. Low-cost sensors, satellite monitoring, forecasting tools, emission inventories and air quality data interpretation were identified as priority topics for training. Participants also asked for more opportunities to discuss the health impacts of air pollution, integrated climate, health and air quality strategies and case studies in communication and public engagement from across the region.

Overall, SEA-AQ community members expressed a preference for connecting, collaborating and learning from one another — a space where they could form partnerships and problem-solve together.

Learning Through Action: Our Journey of Collaboration

Here are a few of the events the SEA-AQ CoP has participated in and conducted to further its mission.

Bangkok Climate and Clean Air Conference

In April 2023, the Climate and Clean Air Conference in Bangkok marked the official inauguration of the SEA-AQ CoP, with 32 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines joining organizers from the U.S. and Mexico to network in person for the first time. The milestone event was held to present initial findings on country- and city-level needs assessments and share updates from the regions. Participants also had the opportunity to meet with Bangkok air quality management officials and tour their air pollution control center.

High Air Pollution Episode in Cities: Understanding through Data and Tools

On Sept. 27, 2023, the SEA-AQ CoP held its first online webinar, focusing on how weather events influence air pollution in Southeast Asian cities. The session featured Rajesh Kumar from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, who provided insights on pollution forecasting and early warning systems. City representatives, including Rahmawati from Jakarta’s Environment Agency and Jundy Tigley Del Socorro from the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources, shared practical urban air quality management experiences.

Better Air Quality Conference 2023

From Nov. 15 to 17, 2023, eight members of the SEA-AQ CoP from Malaysia and Indonesia — representing roles such as senior lecturers, environmental control officers, air quality scientists, professors of environmental health and heads of environmental monitoring departments from institutions including Sunway University; the Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE); the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); the University of Indonesia; the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG); and the Jakarta Environment Agency (DLH Jakarta) — met in Manila to network and learn about different topics presented at the Better Air Quality Conference, organized by Clean Air Asia.

Azka Ghaida, air quality and climate research analyst from WRI Indonesia, represented the SEA-AQ CoP on the "Regional Cooperation for Clean Air and Climate Action" panel. The session identified opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation and strengthened the CoP's visibility within the broader air quality network.

Increasing Awareness Through Ambient Air Quality

On Jan. 25, 2024, SEA-AQ CoP partnered with Clean Air Catalyst and Jakarta's Environment Agency to focus on ambient air quality monitoring systems. The Clean Air Catalyst, a WRI-led global partnership funded by USAID through January 2025, aims to scale up air quality action in Jakarta and other cities around the world. Expert speakers included Gary Kleiman from Orbis Air, as well as representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia and APAQ Group, who shared technical insights. The session held in Jakarta with virtual participation, included a field visit to Clean Air Catalyst's supersite, where attendees gained hands-on experience with monitoring technologies.

Ambient Air Quality Data Analysis and Visualization

On May 10, 2024, the SEA-AQ CoP held its second online session on analyzing and visualizing air quality data for public awareness. The session featured keynote speaker Chris Hagerbaumer from OpenAQ. City representatives included Rahmawati from Jakarta's Environment Agency, Olivia Rivera Hernandez from Mexico City's Environmental Department and Norlazan Mat Sari from Malaysia's Department of Environment. Each speaker shared their approaches to making air quality data more accessible and understandable to the public, helping participants learn practical strategies for data communication and community engagement.

Breaking Boundaries: Regional Collaboration to Tackle Transboundary Haze

On Sept. 24, 2024, the SEA-AQ CoP hosted its third webinar, "Breaking Boundaries: Regional Collaboration to Tackle Transboundary Haze". Guest speakers included Didin Agustian Permadi from ITENAS Bandung; Jundy Del Socorro, chief of air quality management for the Philippines; Albertus Sulaiman, head of climate and atmosphere research at BRIN; and Kevin Daucher from the U.S. State Department. The speakers explained the UN Environment Assembly resolution on transboundary haze. The session also focused on strategies to stop biomass burning, reduce deforestation and strengthen regional cooperation.

Identifying Air Pollution Sources Through Emission Inventory

On Oct. 22, 2024, the SEA-AQ CoP held its second in-person and online workshop with partner Clean Air Catalyst, titled “Identifying Air Pollution Sources Through Emission Inventory”. Speakers included professors Puji Lestari from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh from Asian Institute of Technology and Savitri Garivait from King Mongkut’s University, who shared their experiences conducting emission inventory studies in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Lesson Learned and Reflections

Through our journey of building this regional community, several key insights have emerged:

• Hybrid formats are essential for inclusivity: Balancing technical depth with real-world relevance is key. Hybrid formats have broadened participation across Southeast Asia by accommodating time zones, institutions and language differences. Solutions like real-time interpretation have made our sessions more accessible and engaging.
• Collaboration is the catalyst for action: Partnerships have been vital. Working with Clean Air Catalyst allowed us to bring Jakarta’s on-the-ground experience to a regional audience. Regular coordination with partners like the World Bank, C40 and SERVIR-Southeast Asia has also allowed us to align efforts and prevent duplication.
• Bridging the gap between technical science and practical application: Highlighting case studies and local voices ensures our content is useful, relevant and easy to apply in members’ daily work.
• Translating knowledge into policy action: While the SEA-AQ CoP has built technical capacity, turning that knowledge into policy remains a challenge. Members continue to face hurdles in raising public awareness and ensuring strong enforcement — a reminder of the long-term nature of systems change.
• A true community is built on connection: Beyond training and events, members value the opportunity to connect, collaborate and learn from one another. The SEA-AQ CoP has grown into a trusted space for regional problem-solving and shared purpose — relationships that will endure beyond individual sessions.
• Building bonds across communities: Before the project’s conclusion, the U.S. Department of State provided in-person opportunities for program leads from other regional air quality communities of practice to connect — exchanging stories, insights and ideas. Through the annual air quality workshop and the connections it fostered, participants became part of a supportive network where relationships and shared learning will continue beyond the project.

Looking Ahead: Our Vision for Deeper Impact

Challenges remain urgent, but our collective capacity has grown significantly. Moving forward, the SEA-AQ CoP is committed to building momentum for deeper regional impact. Our vision is evolving from a knowledge-sharing platform into a catalyst for action, guided by three priorities:

• Deepening technical collaboration: We will shift toward more direct and hands-on engagement. Building on the success of our workshops, we plan to introduce more tailored support, such as expert fellowships and policy masterclasses, to provide the in-depth, practical guidance our members need to tackle complex air quality challenges on the ground.
• Strengthening the science-to-policy pipeline: Our focus will increasingly be on empowering members to translate data into policy. By facilitating access to cutting-edge tools and creating forums for policy-focused dialogue, we aim to bridge the gap between technical understanding and the implementation of effective clean air solutions.
• Expanding a proven model for collaboration: The SEA-AQ CoP was built on lessons from successful networks in Latin America and Africa. Having established a strong and collaborative community in Southeast Asia, we aim to refine and share this model. Our goal is to create a global feedback loop, applying our learnings to support emerging networks and accelerate the mission for cleaner air for all. The SEA-AQ CoP has proven that collaboration can drive meaningful progress in addressing air quality challenges. Through our webinars, workshops and regional dialogues, we've built both technical capacity and lasting relationships that transcend borders.

The challenges ahead remain significant — from climate-intensified pollution episodes to transboundary haze — but we're not facing them alone. Whether you're a researcher, government official or civil society advocate, there's a place for you in our mission for cleaner air across Southeast Asia.