This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
1 min Read
Air quality monitoring data is crucial in identifying problem areas to target programmes geared towards mitigation. On 6 May 2022, jointly with the Department of Environment (DoEnv), Government of Nepal, we inaugurated the Khumaltar Air Quality Monitoring Station (AQMS) and launched the Air Quality Watch – Nepal Dashboard. The AQMS is equipped with aerosol and trace gas measurement instruments and will also serve as a training and practice centre for our regional member countries (RMCs) and partners.
We have been collaborating with the DoEnv who began joint air quality in-situ monitoring by setting up a real time air quality monitoring station network across Nepal in 2015. Real-time AQMSs measure different air pollutant concentrations with high precision and low frequency in different environments (urban areas, industrial areas, and special nature conservation areas). To date, we have established 27 AQMSs for monitoring particulate matter (PM) in Nepal.
The newly launched Air Quality Watch – Nepal dashboard brings the AQMS data, other open-source satellite data, air quality models and emissions inventory datasets together in one integrated platform. This data availability and integration contributes to improved situational awareness and enhances effective decision making, making it easier for reference and opening possibilities to link the data to different policies.
What the AQMS measures
Our Director General, Pema Gyamtsho, while underlining the need for strong future collaboration, suggested that the establishment and expansion of the AQMS network indicates the growing importance that the government places on addressing air pollution. The chief guest, Gopal Prasad Aryal, Director General, Department of Environment, said that the Department is happy to be jointly generating real time data. He also highlighted the government and ICIMOD’s joint air quality monitoring efforts since 2015.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
Rising emissions of air pollutants from urban, industrial, and rural sources have been steadily affecting the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) ...
Brick workers, both women and men, face numerous vulnerabilities without any form of social protection. The seasonal migration that this ...
In Nepal, many community forests are involved in the production of charcoal from forest materials generated from the annual cutting ...
People in the region have taken a great interest in air pollution. The risks of air pollution affecting people may ...
In order to promote awareness of atmospheric issues among policy makers, ICIMOD hosted or co-hosted three events at ...
Deteriorating air quality in Nepal and its adverse effects on health and daily activities of the public ...
A national consultation workshop on a social Code of Conduct (CoC) for Nepal’s brick sector was held in Kathmandu on ...
Increasing air pollution in the Kathmandu valley and throughout the country has increased interest among citizens, who have become more ...