International Mini-Conference

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

• Registration, Welcome & Opening Ceremony: Lighting the Lamp
• Þ Ravi Kant Pathak –University of Gothenburg, Welcome, purpose, aim, solutions,
• composition of the conference attendees and introduction of the conference series and its
• anticipated outcome
• Þ Bhanu Neupane – Tribhuvan University Nepal Description of the Kathmandu conference
• for next two days
• Þ Vinay Kumar Jha – HOD Chemistry, Tribhuvan University Nepal, Opening remarks
• Plenary Lecture
  Session chair – Motee Lal Sharma
  Þ Gyan Pandey: Founder AMS consulting, SLCPs scenario and Building Air Quality Network
  in South Asia
  Þ Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar: Senior environmental Scientist, Citizen Voices and Policy Change for
  Advancing Air Quality Reforms in Nepal
  Þ Q&A
  1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
• Lunch & Informal Networking
  2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  Session Chair – Harish Phuleria
• Technical Session 1: Air Pollution & Public Health in Nepal
  Þ Dr. Yadav Joshi: Assistant Professor at Nepal Open University, Air Pollution and Public
  Health in Nepal: Evidence, Policy, and Opportunities for Resilient Actions
  Þ Dr. Binod Pokharel: Associate Professor, Central Department of Hydrology and
  Meteorology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, How Climate Conditions Fuel
  Forest Fires and Worsen Air Pollution in Nepal?
  Þ Sajesh Kuikel: Research Associate, Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,
  Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, Impact of Wildfire Smoke on Air Pollution in
  Kathmandu Valley
  3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Technical Session 2: Local Environmental Challenges
  Session Chair – Susma Giri
  Þ Harish C. Phuleria: Professor, IIT Bombay, Impact of Open-Field Biomass Burning on
  Air Quality in Indo-Gangetic Plains: Results from Rohtak, Haryana
  Þ Parth Sarathi Mahapatra – Intervention Manager – Air Pollution Mitigation, ICIMOD,
  International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal, Black
  Carbon in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya.
  Þ Sapana Bhujel: Research Associate, Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences, Kathmandu,
  Nepal, Spatiotemporal Variation of Air Pollutants in Kathmandu Valley: A Satellite and
  Ground-Based Observation Study
  4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Tea/Coffee Break
  4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
• Session 3: Group Discussion – Identifying Barriers and
  Opportunities for Reducing SLCPs in Nepal and the Indo-Gangetic Plain
  Session Chair – Vimal Kumar
• What are the key emission sources of SLCPs specific to Nepal and the Himalayan region?
• What gaps exist in monitoring, regulation, and public awareness?
• How can local industries and civil society contribute to mitigation?
• What collaborative approaches between government, academia, and private sector could
  accelerate action?
• Session 4: Stakeholders Roundtable – Policy, Innovation, and
  Cross-Border Cooperation for SLCP Mitigation in South Asia
  Session Chair – Anil Pandey
• Integration of scientific data into national air quality policies.
• Leveraging renewable energy and low-cost technologies in reducing SLCPs.
• Role of cross-border collaboration in addressing transboundary pollution.
• Private sector engagement: Can industries lead mitigation through innovation?
• Involving civil society and communities in awareness and action.
• Potential regional framework for SLCP management and knowledge sharing.
  6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Guided Meditation Session (Optional)
  7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Classical Music – Dhrupad Gayan & Dinner