In Closing

Delaying the implementation of emission control measures to improve air quality, both locally and regionally, increases the requirements for attaining clean air, the costs associated with breathing unhealthy air, and positive feedback on climate change efforts. There are gaps in air quality management to fill, additional areas to investigate, and environmental policies to improve. Achieving clean air across the region will demonstrate Southeast Asian nations’ ability to work together to address current and future threats caused by a changing climate, as well as economic and political obstacles. Southeast Asia does not have to start from scratch. To a greater or lesser extent, its eleven nations have made progress in tackling air pollution, the lessons learned should serve as a starting point. Similarly, the experience acquired by nations in other parts of the world when integrating strategies to improve air quality should be used as a reference. The monograph closes with a set of recommendations on how policymakers, air quality managers, scientists, practitioners, educators, professional communicators and journalists, and the non-governmental community can collaborate to achieve clean air with a local and regional vision.