This project aims to improve access to PM2.5 data from different parts of Nepal to complement the existing air quality monitoring system of the government and assist in preparing local and national-level air quality management plans and policies. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the pollutant that causes the largest health impacts globally, contributing to millions of deaths each year. PM2.5 will be measured by local communities in partnership with municipalities, with technical support from experts for 12 months using air quality sensors in all seven provinces. The data will be made publicly available and utilized in policymaking and planning. Clean Energy Nepal (CEN), together with the Central Department of Environmental Studies (CDES) of Tribhuvan University, will coordinate with local governments to set up low-cost monitoring sensors in 10 cities with large populations and provincial capitals. Data from these stations will complement air quality data from Kathmandu Valley collected by CDES, providing a more comprehensive picture of air quality in Nepal. Air quality data will be disseminated in real time through workshops and social media. CEN will also work on a mobile app and website to disseminate the information in the Nepali language. The data will be used to mobilize local governments and community groups to raise awareness of air quality and advocate for policies and plans at the federal, provincial, and local levels.

The project will achieve national-level impact by (i) generating and analyzing continuous air quality data for a period of 12 months from different parts of Nepal, which will be shared widely, and (ii) collaborating with federal, provincial, and municipal governments to use the data for preparing national and local-level air quality management plans and policies, preparing guidelines for using low-cost sensors, and setting standards on air quality.

The project seeks to contribute to the following three positive national-level impacts:

1. Contribution to the National Air Quality Management Plan: The Department of Environment (DoE) under the Ministry of Forest and Environment is planning to prepare a national air quality management plan. For this, air quality data from different locations is necessary for an effective national air quality management plan. While reference-grade monitoring stations exist in some locations, many are not functioning, and even for those that are operational, the data capture rate is very low. The data generated by this project will fill this gap to a certain extent. As the data will be from all provinces in Nepal, it will also provide a good distribution in terms of geography and ecological regions and capture data from major population centers.
2. Support for Local-Level Air Quality Management Plans: While a national air quality management plan is necessary, our experience from previous studies in Kathmandu Valley has shown that city-level air quality management plans are crucial for driving action on the ground. The data generated by this project and the interactions held at the provincial capitals will be instrumental in preparing city-level air quality management plans, which will stimulate action at the city, provincial, and national levels. Ultimately, local leadership, stakeholder partnerships, and community ownership are required for achieving clean air.
3.  Guidelines for Use of Low-Cost Sensors: The government is working on preparing guidelines/protocols for using low-cost sensors in Nepal. Experience from this project will be useful in preparing and piloting these guidelines.

Data Generation: CEN will utilize a low-cost outdoor air quality monitor (model O1-PST) from Air Gradient because it is fully open-source, easy to assemble and use, and CDES already has good experience in using these sensors in Nepal. Furthermore, the sensors are affordable, and Air Gradient is already providing technical assistance to CDES, which will be useful for this project. The monitors will be procured and co-located with other air quality monitoring stations in Kathmandu in collaboration with CDES to test their performance and calibrate them if necessary. Once their performance is verified, they will be deployed in the seven provincial capitals (Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Pokhara, Deukhuri, Surkhet, and Dhangadhi), along with Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Birgunj Metropolitan City, and Siddharth Nagar, making a total of 10 cities to monitor air quality for a period of 12 months. Additionally, two cities—Bharatpur and Birgunj—are selected to represent large cities within Bagmati province with large populations, and Siddharth Nagar to represent a world heritage site. Two sensors will be placed in each city—one in a commercial area and one in a residential area.

The PM2.5 data, along with other data generated by the sensors, will be collected every 10 minutes, cleaned, stored, and disseminated. As Kathmandu Valley, which includes 18 municipalities, already has several air quality monitoring stations and low-cost sensors, data from Kathmandu Valley will not be collected during this study. However, data from Air Gradient sensors used by CDES in Kathmandu Valley will be used to complement the data generated by this project. Additionally, CDES will provide technical support in sensor handling and cross-validation of data and involve master’s students in the process to build technical expertise and ensure high-quality data collection and analysis.

Data Sharing: As Air Gradient’s open-source policy allows everyone to access and use the generated data as required, and conversation with CDES, which is already using a few Air Gradient sensors, has confirmed that Air Gradient will legally allow consumers who purchase their equipment to both own the data they generate and be able to legally share the data on a public platform where it can be shared with a CC-BY-4.0 license. CEN will therefore share all the data generated in a fully open manner in physical units (μg/m3) and in near-real-time, in a manner that can be easily incorporated into open data platforms like OpenAQ as required by EPIC. CEN will work with AirGradient and EPIC to share data on other platforms and will create a mobile app and website so that data can be shared publicly and be available in the Nepali language as well.

Objectives: The primary objective of this initiative is to:

• Generate PM2.5 data over 12 months with the installation of two sensors in 10 selected cities, one sensor in a commercial area and another in a residential area.
• Contribute to local and national air quality management plans and guidelines for the use of low-cost sensors.
•  Raise awareness, provide training, build capacity, and advocate for clean air policies.

Project Period: May 2025 - October 2026

Supported by : EPIC Air Quality Fund, University fo Chicago