Nexus of Air Pollution, Climate Change and Waste: Policy Gaps of Open Waste Burning in Selected Asian Countries

Open waste burning (OWB) is a prevalent waste management practice in many parts of Asia, contributing significantly to air pollution and undermining efforts towards climate mitigation. This paper examines the nexus of waste management, pollution control, and health while providing policy recommendations to address policy gaps and implementation challenges in Asia. This study reviewed OWB policies across 10 selected countries in Asia, examining existing policy frameworks, their effectiveness, and associated challenges. The data has been collected through desk research and interviews with key government officials. Qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the data collected, complemented by a policy matrix summarizing national approaches to OWB. The study confirms that while many countries indirectly address OWB through air quality and waste management policies, explicit regulations are often lacking, leading to inconsistent enforcement. The study also highlights a critical gap in the waste management infrastructure which leads to OWB practices, and suggests policies that improve public awareness and cross-border collaboration to mitigate the impact of OWB.