South East Asia Climate and Clean Air Initiative (SEACAI)


Southeast Asia experiences very harmful periods of air pollution every year causing health, environment and economic damage. Switzerland, Germany and France are joining forces to tackle sources of air pollution and global warming together in Southeast Asia. The project will identify and scale innovative solutions for reducing air and climate pollutants and provide Swiss know-how and experiences on clean air to support joint action, with a special focus on the Lower Mekong region.  

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Asie
Changement climatique & environnement
Protection de la biosphère
01.04.2025 - 31.03.2028
CHF  2’000’000
Contexte Over the years, air quality in the Mekong region has significantly worsened. Due to air pollution’s transboundary nature, a coordinated ASEAN-wide approach is needed. As a heavily affected region, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos were selected to implement demonstrations and strengthen collaboration. ASEAN Member States have repeatedly expressed strong political will to address air pollution over the past years. 
Objectifs The project aims to reduce the emissions of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in the ASEAN region to protect human health, climate and biodiversity by catalyzing innovative, scalable and locally tested solutions and by strengthening political frameworks, transboundary collaboration and awareness, with a special focus on the Lower Mekong Subregion. 
Groupes cibles The population in proximity of the demonstration sites will benefit the most from better air quality. Increased transboundary collaboration, commitment and action to reduce air pollution in the Lower Mekong region (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam) has the potential to improve the quality of life of the wider population in the target region: around 300 million people are impacted by air pollution in the Lower Mekong countries, including 200 million rural residents where exposure exceeds World Health Organisation guidelines frequently by more than tenfold. 
Effets à moyen terme
  1. ASEAN is supported in developing key approaches to reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants 
  2. Implementation-oriented approaches to SLCP mitigation have been strengthened in the Mekong riparian states, taking gender aspects into account 
  3. The ASEAN-wide exchange of experience on air pollution prevention solutions is strengthened based on country-specific demonstration pilots for SLCP mitigation 
Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

1.1  Strategic and technical SLCP-related inputs to implement ASEAN Haze Free Roadmap 

1.2  Support for SLCP mitigation through improved access to finance aligned with ASEAN Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management (AIF-HFSLM) 

2.1 Supporting the Greater Mekong Subregion-wide cooperation on SLCP mitigation through roundtables, joint capacity development, knowledge transfer, etc. 

2.2  Identification and/or support of appropriate cross-border SLCP mitigation approaches and programs  

2.3 Dissemination of knowledge on SLCP mitigation in the region through a knowledge platform, etc. 

3.1 Implementation of country-specific local-level demonstration pilots for SLCP reduction 

3.2 Scaling and dissemination of solutions identified from demonstration pilots 

3.3 Country-specific measures for cross-target group capacity development  

3.4 Cross-country awareness-raising campaigns 


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  • Existing political structures and initiatives related to air pollution and climate protection in ASEAN countries are supported for further development and implementation 
  • Capacity Building and Awareness Raising through Workshops on Open Burning and Transboundary Air Pollution Management for Northern Southeast Asia 
  • Regional stakeholder consultations and webinars on integrated approaches for air quality management and climate change in Southeast Asia have been carried out 
  • Final report on the preparation of Regional Integrated Approaches to Transboundary Air Pollution in Southeast Asia.


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
Institution étatique étrangère
  • The political partner of GIZ for the SEACAI project is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), represented by the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC)


Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs
  • Regional Thematic Hub in Bangkok: Addressing Climate and El Niño-related Risks in Southeast Asia (link to SERVIR data) 
  • Mekong Region Coooperation Programmme: Sustainable Land Management and Investments for Climate Resilient Livelihoods (SLMIC), Mekong Regional Land Governance (MRLG), Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), RECOFTC community-based fire management, Community Action for Sustainable Forests (CasFor), Skills for Tourism and Forestry (STAF) 
  • SDC in Asia: Clean Air China (CAC), Clean Air Project in Indo-Gangetic Plain (CAP IGP), Clean Air Asia: Accelerating better air action in Asian cities (CABAC)
  • Global programmes: Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Transformative Land Investments (TLI) 
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    2’000’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    0 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF    5’800’000 Projet total depuis la première phase Budget de la Suisse CHF   0 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF   2’000’000
Phases du projet Phase 1 01.04.2025 - 31.03.2028   (Phase en cours)