June 11, 2025
On 11th June 2025, Member Countries of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) convened for a significant regional meeting under the banner of the Male Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia – Ambition to Action. The session marked a renewed collective commitment to improving air quality and strengthening environmental cooperation across the region.
The meeting, organized by the Secretariat of the Male Declaration, SACEP, with technical support from AIT RRCAP, brought together representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Discussions focused on addressing shared air pollution challenges and advancing regional strategies to protect public health and the environment.
First adopted in 1998 at the 7th Governing Council Meeting of SACEP in Malé, Maldives, the Male Declaration has been a cornerstone of regional cooperation on transboundary air pollution.
During the meeting, country delegates highlighted the urgent need to revitalize the Declaration’s mechanisms and operational activities, particularly in light of increasing threats posed by deteriorating air quality, climate change, and related health impacts. They expressed strong support for SACEP’s leadership in strengthening institutional frameworks, enhancing technical capacity, and improving regional monitoring and data-sharing systems.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Norbu Wangchuk, Director General of SACEP, underscored the need for renewed political will and strategic partnerships to breathe new life into the initiative. He reaffirmed SACEP’s full commitment to working with Member States to transform the Male Declaration into a more dynamic, action-oriented instrument that delivers tangible environmental outcomes through collective regional efforts.
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