The Pan-Asia Partnership for Geospatial Air Pollution Information (PAPGAPI) is an open partnership launched in 2020 to enhance air quality monitoring by remote sensing data. Supported by ESCAP, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) of Republic of Korea, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), PAPGAPI integrates satellite and ground-based data to improve air pollution assessment and policymaking.

PAPGAPI’s work covers multiple key areas. It utilizes the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) to provide hourly satellite-based data on pollutants such as aerosols, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde across Asia. Additionally, it has established the Pandora Asia Network (PAN), an advanced system of ground-based spectrometers deployed in 13 countries to validate satellite data with localized atmospheric measurements. This combination strengthens air quality assessments and informs emission control policies.

PAPGAPI supports capacity building and technology transfer to help national agencies interpret geospatial data and better manage air pollution monitoring and also fosters regional cooperation through expert meetings and knowledge sharing.

The four-year project aims to provide comprehensive support for ASEAN Member States (AMS) to mitigate air pollution and its negative impact on health through political, scientific and technical measures. The project is composed of four primary outcomes. Outcomes 1 is to raise understanding of the source and health impact of air pollution. Each ASEAN member state will identify the major sources of air pollutants in their selected major cities by understanding the composition of particulate and gaseous air pollutants. The health impact assessment will enable each ASEAN member state to understand the health benefit of improving air quality. In particular, the result of the health impact assessment will be a scientific basis for air pollution policy development by comparing the health benefits and economic impacts of air pollution policy. Outcome 2 is to improve access to information on the status of air pollution. The situation analysis to recommend locations of air pollution monitoring stations in ASEAN member states will be conducted using satellute (GEMS -operated by the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Environment) and ground data.

Based on the situation analysis, air quality monitoring stations will be installed and managed, especially for countries with a limited number of monitoring stations. The project team will train local authorities to maintain the stations. A regional platform will be developed to incorporate air quality monitoring stations and satellite data. Outcome 3 will raise the preparedness and capacity of ASEAN member states to address air pollution. The project will develop regional guidance and resources for the ASEAN member states' response to air pollution and its health impacts. Outcome 4 will develop regional policy to mitigate air pollution. The project will also develop policy recommendations for clean air in ASEAN under the coordination of participating agencies.