Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supports efforts to improve air quality and reduce the impacts of air pollution on public health, ecosystems, and climate. Building on nearly 30 years of global engagement in clean air initiatives, SDC works with governments, research institutions, and local stakeholders to foster evidence-based policies, promote clean technologies, and advance integrated approaches to air quality management and climate change mitigation. Its work leverages Swiss expertise in air quality monitoring, clean technology, and health impact research, promoting solutions that deliver co-benefits for health, environment, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

The SDC has supported clean air initiatives across the Asia region, including strengthening air quality management capacities in Indian cities through source apportionment studies and clean air action planning; advancing real-time air pollution source apportionment tools in major Chinese cities to inform targeted policies; and reducing air pollution risks to maternal and child health in Mongolia through evidence generation, improved ventilation systems, and risk reduction measures.

At present, the SDC continues to contribute to regional action through three regional programmes tackling air pollution in South Asia (Clean Air India – Indo-Gangetic Plain project CAP-IGP) and in South East Asia (South East Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative SEACAI) as well as in various Asian cities through the Accelerating Better Air Action in Asian Cities project (CABAC). The SDC also supports the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), promoting knowledge exchange, capacity building, and technical assistance across low- and middle-income countries in Asia to reduce short-lived climate pollutants and improve air quality.

Projects

Title	South East Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative (SEACAI)
Duration	01/04/2025 - 31/03/2028
Partners	GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH), BMZ, IRD
Geographical Scope	South-East Asia Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand, Viet Nam
Description	The "South East Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative" (SEACAI) aims to reduce the emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in the ASEAN region to protect human health, climate and biodiversity by catalyzing innovative, scalable and locally tested solutions and by strengthening political frameworks, transboundary collaboration and awareness, with a special focus on the Lower Mekong Subregion. As “team Europe”, Germany, Switzerland and France joined forces and formed SEACAI to tackle sources of air pollution and global warming in Southeast Asia together. SEACAI supports the implementation of the ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap (AHFR) under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP), focusing on Strategy 2 (sub-regional strategies) and Strategy 5 (multi-stakeholder resource mobilisation). It also aligns with the ASEAN Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management (AIF-HFSLM), promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry. ASEAN is the political partner of SEACAI, with the Technical Working Group on Transboundary Haze Pollution in the Mekong Sub-region (TWG Mekong) as the main counterpart. The TWG Mekong ensures coordination with national plans like Chiang Rai plan of action and the CLEAR Sky Strategy. SEACAI works on three layers. On the ASEAN-wide level, it supports the ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap by improving access to climate finance and strengthening ASEAN working groups on SLCP reduction, knowledge sharing, and technical solutions. It will explore possibilities to supporting the establishment of the new ASEAN Haze Centre. In the Lower Mekong, the project promotes cooperation among Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam through roundtables, capacity building, and knowledge platforms. Nationally, SEACAI will implement 8–10 innovative solutions in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, focusing on agriculture, forestry, and waste. Lessons learned will inform national and regional strategies, supported by awareness campaigns and engagement with ASEAN and partners.
Contact	silas [dot] markert [at] eda [dot] admin [dot] ch