Vientiane, Lao PDR, 17 March 2026 – Air pollution has long been a controversial and critical global issue, affecting human health, ecosystems, and economies. Around the world, millions of people breathe air that exceeds safe limits, with outdoor and indoor pollution contributing to an estimated 7 million premature deaths annually. Transboundary haze is one of Southeast Asia’s most persistent environmental challenges. In Lao PDR, PM2.5 levels often surpass WHO safety guidelines, driven by uncontrolled infrastructure and land-use practices, posing serious risks to public health and calling for coordinated action at national and regional levels. The ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF) is supporting Member States to address it through coordinated, country-led investment in sustainable land management.

Lao PDR has taken a significant step forward. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Lao PDR, in partnership with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) and with financial support from the ASEAN–UK Green Transition Fund (GTF), convened a Consultative Meeting with National Stakeholders on 22 December 2025 in Vientiane. The meeting marked an important step toward translating the ASEAN Investment Framework for Haze-Free Sustainable Land Management (AIF-HFSLM) into Lao PDR’s national context by developing a National Investment Framework (NIF). Government agencies, development partners, financial institutions and civil society convened in Vientiane to validate the country’s NIF for haze-free sustainable land management. The workshop advanced financing strategies identified opportunities to strengthen stakeholder engagement and amplified tracking mechanisms to support national reporting.

The AIF-HFSLM, endorsed by ASEAN in August 2023, provides a regional framework to mobilize and channel investments supporting haze mitigation, sustainable land management, peatland conservation, and climate action. Lao PDR is among the first ASEAN Member States to initiate the development of a National Investment Framework as a pathway to operationalize the framework at the country level.

The one-day consultation was co-chaired by Mr. Aloune SAYAVONG, Deputy Director General, Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Lao PDR; Mr. Cashel Gleeson, Deputy Ambassador at British Embassy in Lao PDR; and Mr. Faizal Parish, Director of the Global Environment Centre. The consultation brought together representatives from government ministries, financial institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, research institutions, and international agencies, who participated in technical briefings and interactive group discussions to identify sectoral challenges, review existing and pipeline initiatives, and explore financing opportunities to support haze-free sustainable land management.

In Lao PDR, air pollution—particularly during the dry season—is driven by multiple sources, including slash-and-burn agriculture, forest and land fires, open burning of waste, vehicle emissions, and the continued reliance on biomass fuels for household energy. These challenges underscore the need for integrated investment approaches that address land management, climate resilience, and public health simultaneously.

The consultative meeting aimed to identify key sectoral challenges and priority needs related to haze mitigation and sustainable land management, and to map existing and planned financing initiatives and investment pipelines. It also sought to explore potential financing strategies, including opportunities to access international climate funds, and to strengthen linkages between national stakeholders and development partners to support the development of concept papers and future funding applications.

Outcomes from the consultation will inform the development of Lao PDR’s National Investment Framework, which will serve as a strategic document to prioritize investments, strengthen project readiness, and mobilize climate and green finance. The NIF is expected to play a critical role in supporting national efforts to reduce haze pollution, promote sustainable land-use practices, and contribute to regional ASEAN commitments.

By translating regional frameworks into national action, and national action into lasting change, the ASEAN-UK GTF is actively supporting ASEAN’s vision of a haze-free region. The development of the NIF for Lao PDR will continue through March 2026, reinforcing collaboration among national institutions, regional partners, and international financing mechanisms to advance a haze-free, climate-resilient Lao PDR.