Male Declaration on Air Pollution - Testbook

The Male Declaration: An Overview

Also known as the Malé Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and Its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia, the Male Declaration was signed by the members of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in Male, the capital of the Maldives, in 1998.

• The declaration came into existence in 1998 when the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) highlighted the potential impacts of transboundary air pollution in South Asia.

Objective of the Male Declaration

The main aim of the declaration is to “facilitate a clean environment through clean air”.

• It promotes regional cooperation among South Asian countries to tackle the threat of transboundary air pollution and its detrimental effects on the population and the environment.
• The implementation of the declaration is carried out in stages by the National Focal Points (NFPs) and the National Implementing Agencies (NIAs) appointed by each member country.
• From 1999 to 2013, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) provided financial support.
• The programme's coordination is facilitated by the Secretariat at the Regional Resource Centre for Asia Pacific (RRC. AP), Asian Institute of Technology, located in Pathumthani, Thailand.

Activities Carried Out under the Male Declaration

Many activities have been carried out since the implementation of the declaration, such as:

1. Establishing a network of policymakers and stakeholders.
2. Conducting monitoring and impact assessment.
3. Carrying out impact assessment studies and communicating the findings to policymakers and other stakeholders.
4. Implementing policy measures to control air pollution.

Importance of the Male Declaration on Air Pollution

The Male Declaration holds great significance as it addresses the pressing issue of air pollution.

• The declaration acknowledges the significant transboundary aspect of air pollution in the South Asian region.
• Key action areas include reducing harmful emissions that impact human health, food security, ecosystems, corrosion, as well as economic development.
• Emission of air pollutants affects various sectors such as agriculture (food security) and human health.
• The socio-economic impacts of air pollution are extensive and profound.
• Air pollution can impact people directly, through breathing polluted air, and indirectly by damaging the environment in which they live and reducing crop yield.

South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)

Founded in 1982 by eight South Asian countries, SACEP aims to boost regional cooperation, protection and management of the environment.

SACEP Member Countries:

1. Afghanistan
2. Bangladesh
3. Bhutan
4. India
5. Maldives
6. Nepal
7. Pakistan
8. Sri Lanka

SACEP implements numerous programmes in the fields of environment education, environment legislation, biodiversity, air pollution, and the protection and management of the coastal environment.

SACEP also serves as the secretariat for the South Asian Seas Programme.

It is headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka.