The Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) is an intergovernmental regional initiative established in 2001 to address acid deposition and air pollution issues. With 13 Participating Countries—Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Thailand, and Viet Nam—EANET aims to foster regional cooperation, monitor acid deposition and air pollution, and provide scientific insights to policymakers.

In 2021, EANET expanded its scope from focusing solely on acid deposition to covering broader air pollution issues. At the same time, the EANET Project Fund was established to encourage collaboration outside of the EANET network and mobilize more resources.

The Intergovernmental Meeting (IG), composed of the 13 Participating Countries, serves as the decision-making body for EANET. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) was established under the Intergovernmental Meeting, and the Secretariat and the Network Center support the network. These organizations promote the network’s activities in close communication, coordination, and collaboration with the National Focal Points, National Centers, and National Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) Managers in the Participating Countries. The network’s Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), while the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) in Niigata, Japan, acts as its Network Center for technical and scientific support.

EANET’s work on air pollution focuses on monitoring and mitigating acid deposition caused by pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), which are primarily emitted from fossil fuel combustion. Monitoring activities include wet deposition (acid rain), dry deposition (airborne particles and gases), soil and vegetation conditions in forest areas, and the quality of inland aquatic environments. As of 2007, EANET had established 51 wet deposition monitoring sites and 40 dry deposition sites across its member countries. These efforts ensure the collection of high-quality scientific data through standardized quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.

One of EANET’s core activities is capacity building. It regularly conducts training programs, joint research initiatives, workshops, and research fellowships to strengthen the technical expertise of monitoring officers and researchers in Participating Countries. These programs help enhance national capacities to monitor acid deposition and air pollution effectively and develop strategies to mitigate their impacts.

EANET also focuses on advancing policy-relevant research by producing Periodic Reports on the State of Acid Deposition (PRSAD) in East Asia. These reports compile data from Participating Countries to assess trends in acid deposition and air pollution over 25 years.
EANET is the only network in East Asia to monitor both acid deposition and air pollution, producing high-quality open data, providing knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and public awareness to government officials, researchers, and the public. 

Recent Updates

The Twenty seventh Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting (IG27) on the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) was convened in Bangkok, Thailand, from 27 to 28 November 2025. Representatives from the 13 Participating Countries attended in a hybrid format, with around 70 participants from member countries, the Secretariat, the Network Center, UNEP, and observers. Discussions focused on EANET’s future direction, including adoption of the Medium-Term Plan (2026–2030).

Hosted by Thailand, the session opened with remarks highlighting national progress and the need for strengthened regional cooperation. UNEP and ACAP emphasized persistent air pollution challenges and the importance of the new strategic framework.

The IG27 adopted key technical documents, endorsed monitoring guidelines, and approved the Medium-Term Plan. It also agreed on 11 projects under the EANET Project Fund, with contributions exceeding US$387,000 to support monitoring, capacity building, and regional initiatives for improved air quality management.
 

The Medium-Term Plan for EANET (2026–2030)

IG Meeting Reports