Air Pollution in Asian Cities

In this presentation, Glynda Bathan, Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia discussed the state of air pollution in Asian cities, honing on air quality figures for Metro Manila. She cited air pollution as the fifth leading global risk factor for premature deaths, highlighting the health impacts of air pollution, and the need for urgent collective action.​

World Environment Day 2019: Opening Session – The Air That We Breathe

World Environment Day is an annual event organized by UN Environment on 5 June and celebrated by ADB's Environment Thematic Group. This year's theme, "Beat Air Pollution", is aligned with the operational priorities of ADB’s Strategy 2030 including those aimed at making cities more livable and providing better health for all. In order to address air pollution integrated approaches from the urban, transport, energy and health sectors are needed.

Glynda Bathan

Glynda Bathan is Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia. She is a lawyer with over 16 years’ experience in air quality management. She was a member of the legal team assisting the Philippine Government in drafting the Clean Air Act of 1999 Implementing Rules and Regulations. She led the implementation of the Asia Clean Fuels and Vehicles program which resulted in national policies and roadmaps for cleaner fuels and vehicles.

Priyantha Wijayatunga

Priyantha is currently the Senior Director of the Energy Sector Group in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 15 years in ADB. He served as the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group prior to assuming the current position.  Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka and a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.