inDrive hosts Kathmandu dialogue to strengthen coordinated air quality action
Kathmandu: inDrive convened government officials, experts, civil society representatives and private sector stakeholders in the capital for the Kathmandu Clean Air Dialogue, aimed at strengthening collaboration on air pollution mitigation.
The forum centred on four priorities: aligning high-level stakeholders, assessing the current air quality landscape, identifying bottlenecks and strategic solutions, and encouraging greater private sector engagement.
The Minister for Forest and Environment attended as chief guest and remained present throughout the programme, underscoring both progress made and the need for intensified collective efforts. He welcomed the initiative and highlighted the importance of coordinated action in tackling Kathmandu’s worsening air pollution.
Participants noted that the Valley’s air quality challenges are driven by multiple factors, including emissions from household biomass use, a growing transport sector and expanding industrial activity. Seasonal winter smog, exacerbated by geographic conditions, further compounds the problem.
Organisers said durable progress would require credible data systems, strengthened public awareness and improved inter-agency coordination — particularly at a time when international funding for environmental programmes is tightening.
The event also marked the launch of the Nepal Taza Initiative, inspired by the framework developed by the Almaty Air Initiative. The approach is built around three pillars: data-driven monitoring and research (“Brain”), public engagement and awareness (“Voice”), and translating scientific evidence into policy and institutional reform (“Bridge”).
Zhuldyz Saulebekova, Chief Executive of the Almaty Air Initiative, said sustainable improvements in air quality depend on strong local systems grounded in reliable data and public participation.
Organisers described the dialogue as an initial step towards sustained cross-sector cooperation aimed at improving air quality and safeguarding public health in Nepal.
