21-22 September 2006, Urumuqi, China

Venue: Orient Dynasty Hotel

Organized by the State Environmental Protection Administration of China and Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities

Supported by the Asian Development Bank and Sino-Italian Cooperation Program for Environmental Protection

Background

The Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) China Project (Project) is a joint project of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) State Environment Protection Administration (SEPA), Asian Development Bank, and CAI-Asia, supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Energy Foundation. Established in July 2005 in Beijing, the Project aims "to promote better air quality management (AQM) in selected Chinese cities."

In October 2005, a project inception workshop was held with all the eleven city members of the CAI-Asia PRC network present. A second workshop of Chinese cities on "Strengthening the CAI-Asia China Project Network" was held on 29-30 May 2006 in Beijing discuss their AQM challenges, systems, and strategies.

PRC has set the goal of reducing SO2 emissions by 10 percent by 2010. Agreements on SO2 reduction targets have already been signed by SEPA with six large power groups and several provinces. In the Second City Workshop, several CAI-Asia China Project cities requested assistance in addressing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions control.

In support of the implementation of the national SO2 emission reduction goals by the city members of the CAI-Asia China Project, the Third City Workshop will discuss issues related to technology, management, and institutional mechanisms on SO2 emission reduction.