The “National Workshop on Air Quality Management in Mongolia: Development and Prospects” opened on September 24, 2025. Moreover, it coincided with the 28th Senior Officials Meeting of the North-East Asian Subregional Program for Environmental Cooperation.
The event brought together over 40 delegates from Mongolia, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the NEASPEC Secretariat. In addition, officials gathered to review Mongolia’s current air quality status, examine policies, and strengthen institutional coordination.
Furthermore, participants also exchanged ideas on air pollution, low-carbon city development, desertification, land degradation, biodiversity, and broader conservation efforts. The gathering underscored how environmental challenges transcend borders and therefore demand collaborative approaches.
A key outcome of the meetings was the endorsement of the strategic plan, budget, and results framework for 2026 to 2030. Additionally, Member States also presented national policies and shared initiatives that aim to advance regional environmental cooperation.
Meanwhile, State Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Zolbayar Togtokhjargal, emphasized Mongolia’s leadership role. He noted that Mongolia will host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in August 2026. He further added that outcomes from these discussions will strengthen preparations for COP17 and advance regional cooperation.
At the same time, the North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership, supported by multiple regional organizations, continues to play an important role. Its efforts therefore promote dialogue among Mongolia, China, Russia, and South Korea to strengthen air quality management and sustainable growth.
Experts also explained that improved cross-border collaboration could reduce health risks, cut economic losses, and drive progress on climate goals. Moreover, many delegates stressed that aligning air quality policies with long-term sustainability strategies is critical for Northeast Asia.
Looking ahead, participants expect the momentum from these meetings to guide more ambitious environmental programs. In addition, they highlighted the importance of innovation, technology transfer, and integrated policies to tackle pollution and ecological degradation.
Ultimately, the workshop clearly showed Mongolia’s commitment to air quality management and its broader vision for regional environmental cooperation. Therefore, leaders agreed that continued dialogue and joint action remain vital to addressing shared challenges across Northeast Asia.
