malaysiang
KUCHING: The government is finalising the National Clean Air Action Plan 2025-2040 (NCAAP) that is aimed to address the challenges related to air quality in the country. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii said NCAAP which is developed in the earlier Clean Air Action Plan 2010 is designed to enhance Malaysia’s ambient air quality and serves as a guiding document to drive unified and comprehensive efforts toward achieving better air quality.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the development of NCAAP 2025-2040 involves collaboration with various stakeholders, such as government bodies, the private sector, industry players, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, and others. This was stated by the deputy minister in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 13th Asian Aerosol Conference (AAC) 2024.
The deputy minister noted that urban areas are expanding quickly due to economic growth, increased population, and migration from rural
areas to cities, resulting in high aerosol concentrations. He said the increased concentrations of atmospheric aerosols, especially those originating from biomass burning, fossil-fuel combustion, and industrial emissions have become the main climate issue in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. With ongoing research and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and international partners, Malaysia is well-positioned to make significant strides in understanding and managing the complex issues related to aerosols.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg highlighted that Sarawak’s unique geographical landscape provides an opportunity to study the effects of aerosols on climate change and atmospheric processes. Sarawak is actively collaborating with international research institutions to develop climate adaptation strategies that consider aerosol-climate interactions, which are crucial for predicting rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and forest health. His speech was read by Sarawak
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The conference, themed ‘Synergizing Aerosol Science, Technology, Policy, and Practice Towards Sustainable Solutions’, attracted over 400 scientists, industry leaders, government agencies, and policymakers from 36 countries to address critical issues in aerosol science. Running from November 3 until 7, the event is organised by the Clean Air Forum Society of Malaysia (MyCAS) and the Asian Aerosol Research Assembly (AARA).
