Five experts from atmospheric research centers including National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) will attend the 2nd Tripartite Seminar on Industrial Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS) Management Practice among China, Japan and Korea on October 27 at Beijing, China with an aim to improving the air quality.

The seminar is organized by China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Center (CAEC) following the 1st seminar held in Beijing last June with 30 participants from the three countries. Participants will share management policies on VOCs, major sources of fine dust, smog and ozone, present best practices and have in-depth discussion.

Korean representatives will share VOCs emissions reduction technology and its application in the industrial process including oil refining and ship painting and introduce management policies. China will share VOCs emissions reduction technology in petrochemical and rubber products, introduce management policies and implementation.

Japan will share VOCs emissions prevention technology specialized in car paining and printing process. In particular, China expects to share advanced air quality improvement policies and cases of Korea and Japan at the seminar. 

VOCs management and reduction technology is one of the key areas for joint research of policy dialogue working group among China, Japan and Korea as agreed at the 17th Tripartite Environment Ministers Meeting held on April 29-30.

“VOCs are forming ozone which is harmful to the human body, so it is needed to reduce VOCs emissions for the public health,” said Kang Dae-il, Director of NIER. “I hope the seminar serve as a meaningful opportunity to continue tripartite cooperation in VOCs management among China, Japan and Korea,” he added.