Rapid urbanization and population growth in Asia have led to a surge in vehicle fleets. In many cities, investment in mitigation measures such as vehicle emission controls, cleaner fuels, and travel demand management systems did not match this. As a result, traffic-related emissions led to elevated air pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds.

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) poses a significant threat to public health and the environment. These included health impacts such as increased rates of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and other health complications. Therefore, it was recognized that there was a need for swift and coordinated action in Asia. Implementing transport and urban air quality management measures like Low Emission Zones (LEZ) could help in improving air quality and fostering healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable communities. Such initiatives entailed collaboration among governments, the private sector, industries, and communities to address this critical issue.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) aimed to play a more active role and lead air quality management (AQM) by scaling up investments and capacity-building support to developing Asian and Pacific countries. Through the Asia Clean Blue Skies Program (ACBSP), several knowledge-sharing events on AQM topics were organized on behalf of ADB by Ricardo Energy and Environment, Clean Air Asia, and Air Quality Consultants since 2022. In May 2022, a knowledge-sharing event entitled “Opportunities for Improving Air Quality through Urban Planning and Transport Solutions” was conducted, featuring Berlin in Germany’s experience in LEZ enforcement to address mobile emissions.

Furthermore, LEZs, as a tool in addressing emissions from the transport sector, garnered much interest throughout the Better Air Quality Conference in November 2023. Building on the outcomes of the previous events, this session focused on the most effective strategies and best practices for implementing LEZs in Asian cities.

Objectives of the Sessions

The session aimed to facilitate sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices on planning and implementation of LEZs in the diverse urban landscape of the Asian region. Esteemed experts discussed practical strategies for designing, implementing, and monitoring LEZs in Asian cities. The workshop considered practical and technical issues, engagement with key delivery partners and the wider community, and funding opportunities. Challenges, experiences, and lessons learned by Asian cities in implementing LEZs were discussed throughout the event. In particular, the two-day hybrid learning event aimed to achieve the following:

• To highlight the impacts of TRAP and the potential of LEZs in addressing it;
• To understand the local context, strategies, and best practices of LEZ implementation in Asia;
• To identify challenges in LEZ implementation in Asia and opportunities for synergy with local transport actions and programs; and
• To apply lessons learned from the knowledge-sharing event (KSE) towards planning for local LEZ implementation.