The 2014 Integrated Conference of Better Air Quality (BAQ) and the 8th Intergovernmental Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum is the biggest gathering yet of clean air and sustainable
transport advocates working towards more liveable cities in the region.
More than 1,000 delegates from 50 countries are coming to Colombo to
attend the three day conference from 19 to 21 November 2014. The event
takes place at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike International Convention
Centre. This year’s conference theme is Next Generation Solutions for Clean
Air and Sustainable Transport - Towards a Livable Society in Asia.”
Organized by Clean Air Asia, the United Nations (UN) Center for
Regional Development, and the Sri Lanka government, the high policy
forum will help provide leaders with a strategic platform to discuss air
pollution, transport, and climate change solutions across Asia.
According to the World Health Organization 7 out of 10 cities have
unhealthy levels of air pollution, exposing residents to significant
public health risk. In Colombo, the transport sector alone accounts for 60 percent of the
country’s air pollution as the country doubled its vehicles to 4.2
million in just two decades, says Sri Lanka President Mahinda
Rajapaksam, this year’s guest of honor.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nikhil Seth, Director of the Division for Sustainable
Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (UNDESA) is delivering the plenary keynote address. “The bottom line on air pollution is that it has become the world’s
single most dangerous environmental and health risk. It is upon us to
reverse this trend of negative health impacts.
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