In June 2009 during the first International Forum for a Sustainable Asia and the Pacific (ISAP) in Hayama, Japan, policymakers and experts proposed creating an informal network to improve stakeholder cooperation and knowledge management on co-benefits in Asia. Over the last year, representatives from leading international organisations and government agencies held follow-up meetings in Bangkok, Thailand to further define the goals, membership, functions and activities, and implementing arrangements for an "Asian Co-benefits Partnership."

Based upon the support received at those meetings, an "Asian Co-benefits Partnership" was formally launched at the Better Air Quality 2010 conference in Singapore with the support of 100 participants and the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOEJ). The Partnership will serve as an informal and interactive platform to improve knowledge management and stakeholder cooperation on co-benefits in Asia. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) will serve as the secretariat for the Partnership.

At the Closing Plenary Ceremony, IGES was awarded the "Co-benefits Award" (CAI-ASIA Plaque Awards) for its contribution and efforts to launch the Partnership to promote a co-benefits approach in Asia as well as for bringing many participants to BAQ 2010.