Asia Clean Blue Skies
"Ricardo has been supporting the Environment Thematic Group of ADB since the inception of the Asia Clean Blue Skies Program in 2021. Their expertise in all aspects of air quality management has been invaluable and the team have been both professional and flexible in their support. Ricardo has effectively led the wider delivery team and delivered to a high standard. We look forward to a continued working relationship as the ACBS program further develops".
- Asian Development Bank
Challenge
Since 2021, our teams have supported ADB in developing the Asia Clean Blue Skies program and have initiated the first phase of activities.
Our teams are currently working with ADB officials, as well as stakeholders in developing member countries (DMCs), to scale up ADB investment in projects where air quality improvement is the clearly stated objective (or a key component), such as by helping to quantify air quality benefits or advising on the feasibility of securing additional funding.
To improve progress tracking, our experts are working on mechanisms to allow the ADB to routinely improve, assess and deliver air quality benefits across its full project portfolio.
Alongside project partners, including Clean Air Asia, we are also supporting the design and delivery of capacity building and technology sharing for a range of stakeholders across ADB, within DMCs, and other partner organisations. At the 2023 International Better Air Quality Conference in Manila, for example, we helped bring together partners from over 30 cities in Asia-Pacific to discuss the challenge of air pollution and assess potential opportunities for financial support. One key project emerging from this process is the development of a pilot in Vietnam to reduce emissions and improve the sustainability of the textile industry.
Approach
Since 2021 our teams have supported ADB in developing the Asia Clean Blue Skies program and initiate the first phase of activities.
Our teams are currently working with ADB officials, as well as stakeholders in developing member countries (DMCs), to scale up ADB investment in projects where air quality improvement is the clearly stated objective (or a key component), such as by helping to quantify air quality benefits, or advising on the feasibility of securing additional funding.
To improve the tracking of progress, our experts proposed a framework to ensure air quality considerations are routinely prioritised, assessed and delivered in ADB’s full project portfolio.
Alongside project partners, Clean Air Asia, we are also supporting the design and delivery of capacity building and technology sharing for a range of stakeholders across ADB, within DMCs, and other partner organisations. At the 2023 International Better Air Quality Conference in Manila, for example, this helped bring together partners from 10 cities in Asia-Pacific to discuss the challenge of air pollution and assess potential opportunities for financial support.
Results
Our specialist insight is helping ADB fulfil its role as one of the top international development funders of air quality projects, as highlighted by the 2023 State Of Global Air Quality Funding report published by the Clean Air Fund.
Our expert networks, for example, allow ADB officials to tap into new financial and technical resources, whilst the frameworks and methodologies we have helped introduce mean there is clearer sight of priority objectives with robust monitoring processes put in place.
Designed to extend through to 2030, the program is currently working to expand financial support for air quality projects, to support cities and countries with their air quality activities, and to establish a more transparent process for tracking the impact of ADB’s multi-billion dollar climate and infrastructure investments on air quality across the region.