Clean Air Asia opened the 12th Better Air‑Quality (BAQ) conference on 11 March 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The three‑day event runs at the United Nations Conference Centre until 13 March. More than 1,100 delegates from 56 countries are attending. Partners include the Asian Development Bank, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the UN Environment Programme.
Air pollution remains a top health risk. One in eight deaths worldwide is linked to polluted air, according to the 2025 Health Effects Institute report. The WHO’s 2021 guidelines now set the annual PM2.5 limit at 5 µg/m³. Yet 99 % of the global population breathes air that exceeds this level.
BAQ has become the region’s leading forum for integrated air‑pollution solutions. Thailand was chosen because of its regional leadership and the urgency of tackling emissions from transport, industry, agriculture and transboundary sources. The host city also offers a diplomatic hub for cross‑border cooperation.
“We are proud to welcome delegates from around the world to BAQ 2026,” said Bjarne Pedersen, Executive Director of Clean Air Asia. “The theme ‘Together for Clear Skies: Driving Action, Accelerating Investment’ highlights the need for collective investment and strong partnerships.”
“Improving air quality is fundamental to sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific,” said Yoko Watanabe, Director – Environment at the ADB. “ADB will support member countries to strengthen air‑quality management, boost clean‑energy transitions, modernise transport and mobilise finance for large‑scale solutions. BAQ 2026 aligns policy ambition with needed investments.”
Key objectives of the conference are to unlock financing for scalable solutions, drive multi‑sector action, and build stronger partnerships among governments, funders, the private sector and civil society. Delegates will join plenaries, thematic sessions and practical discussions. A highlight will be financing roundtables that aim to speed up funding for clean‑air projects across Asia.
More information and the full program are available at cleanairasia.org/BAQ.
