Project Description
Air quality in Lao PDR had become a growing concern, with PM10 and PM2.5 levels frequently exceeding national and international standards in multiple provinces. While the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) established a baseline monitoring network under the Second Lao Environment and Social Project (LENS2), limitations remained in data quality, geographic coverage, and analytical capacity. To support the design of the forthcoming Environmental and Waste Management Project (EWMP), the World Bank commissioned ICEM to assess the current air quality monitoring system, identify pollution sources, and recommend institutional and regulatory improvements for enhanced air quality management.
Objectives, Activities, and Results
ICEM conducted a comprehensive study structured around four technical components. The team evaluated existing monitoring systems, assessed data quality, and compared findings against WHO air quality guidelines. An emissions coefficient database was developed using international best practices, highlighting climate co-benefits. Remote sensing was used to map pollution patterns and identify links to land use and transboundary sources. An institutional and regulatory assessment resulted in a roadmap for air quality governance improvements. ICEM also provided recommendations for upgrading monitoring infrastructure and integrating findings into future World Bank-supported programming. These efforts laid the groundwork for a national air pollution inventory and more effective policy action in Lao PDR.
