Kathmandu - Clean Up Nepal, in collaboration with Green Decision Labs and Research and Clean Energy Nepal, convened a multi-stakeholder meeting on “Low-Cost Air Sensor Installation and Its Data Uses in Air Pollution Monitoring” on March 25, 2026, in Kathmandu. The event forms part of ongoing efforts to influence policymaking and strengthen advocacy initiatives aimed at tackling Nepal’s worsening air pollution and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
The discussion focused on enhancing stakeholders’ understanding of low-cost air quality sensors, particularly their functionality, data reliability, and the importance of regulatory frameworks to ensure the credibility of citizen-generated air quality data. Experts highlighted that while low-cost sensors offer an accessible alternative for expanding monitoring networks, their effectiveness depends on standardized protocols and proper calibration.
Representatives from key institutions-including the Department of Environment Nepal, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Metropolitan City, and Disaster Preparedness Network Nepal-along with academia, private sector actors, and civil society organizations, emphasized the urgent need to establish national standards for low-cost sensors. Such standards, participants noted, would improve data accessibility, support evidence-based policymaking, raise public awareness, and strengthen disaster preparedness mechanisms related to air pollution.
The meeting concluded with a set of actionable next steps, including comprehensive data analysis, dissemination of findings at the local level, development of operational guidelines for sensor deployment, and contributions to Nepal’s evolving air quality management strategies. Participants also stressed the importance of scaling up low-cost monitoring networks and providing technical support to local governments to ensure effective implementation.
A total of 27 participants, including nine women, actively engaged in the discussions, reflecting a growing multi-sectoral commitment to addressing air pollution challenges in Nepal. Organizers acknowledged the support of the EPIC Air Quality Fund in facilitating the event.
The initiative signals a coordinated push toward integrating innovative, community-driven technologies into national air quality monitoring systems-an essential step in addressing one of the most pressing environmental health challenges facing urban Nepal today.
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