Border Crossed by Ashes and Wind - Beijing, DSS and Acid Rain Support Landscape (2007)

Border Crossed by Ashes and Wind - Beijing, DSS and Acid Rain Support Landscape (2007)

Around 2007, China was facing serious environmental problems behind its economic development. In Beijing and other northern cities, sulfur oxide emissions from coal combustion caused acid rain, while at the same time, the progression of desertification led to frequent yellow sandstorms. Such air pollution was also affecting Japan and South Korea beyond their borders, and came to be recognized as an issue for East Asia as a whole.

The Japanese government responded to this situation by strengthening its observation system in China through a grant aid of approximately 793 million yen. It installed observation equipment in Beijing and supported the development of a forecast model for acid rain and DSS. In addition to Japan and China, an East Asian-scale network has been established, involving Mongolia, South Korea, and other countries, creating a framework for regional cooperation. This effort extended the achievements of the East Asian Network for Acid Rain Monitoring (EANET), which had been led by Japan, and laid the foundation for sharing scientific data.

In parallel, the ADB-GEF "Asian DSS Control Project," which had been underway since 2003, was also promoted to improve observation and analysis capabilities in China and Mongolia. These moves went beyond mere environmental assistance and were developed as East Asian "environmental diplomacy. Under a sky where ashes and winds come and go, joint future building based on science and trust has begun.