ERIA delegation led by Mr Reo Kawamura, Director for Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) took part in a number of salient activities in the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), from April 23rd to 29th 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
As one of the unofficial side events of INC-4, ERIA co-organized a thematic seminar with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and IGES, in collaboration with OECD, IUCN and NIVA on April 22nd 2024. The seminar shed light on Asian countries’ initiatives to tackle plastic pollution, as well as OECD’s forthcoming Regional Plastics Outlook Report focusing on Asia, and discussed the importance of monitoring, among others, as ways to address this problem. The participants actively explored opportunities to further enhance efforts to reduce marine plastics debris, with the purpose of contributing to the global plastics treaty.
ERIA, as an accredited Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) of UNEA, submitted a statement to the Opening Plenary of INC-4, held on 23rd November 2024. In this statement, ERIA pointed out that many individual ASEAN Member States as well as ASEAN as a region have multiplied their efforts to combat plastic pollution, but in order for them to achieve the ambitious targets put forth in their objectives, further support in the fields of capacity building, infrastructure development and resource mobilization are required. While underscoring its support for the INC process, ERIA also emphasized the importance of keeping the solutions practical and pragmatic, allowing countries with high aspirations to navigate through the inevitable challenges and keep the momentum moving forward.
On April 24th 2024, a thematic side event titled, 'Plastic pollution in the marine environment' was held as one of the official side events of INC-4. At this occasion, Mr Kawamura, Director for the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA shared with the audience, the status quo of the plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region, and the many initiatives carried out by the Asian countries. After a brief introduction of OECD’s Regional Plastics Outlook report for which ERIA is a partner, he listed initiatives undertaken collectively by ASEAN as a region, and individually by different ASEAN Member States to combat plastic pollution. Application of EPR for plastics are introduced or under consideration by many ASEAN countries, continued Mr Kawamura, supported by various relevant knowledge hubs in the region, including the Regional Knowledge Center of ERIA. He ended his intervention by sharing his hope that the upcoming international treaty would reflect the strong willingness and commitment expressed by ASEAN and its member states.
Director of the Knowledge Centre
ERIA delegation led by Mr Reo Kawamura, Director for Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) took part in a number of salient activities in the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), from April 23rd to 29th 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
As one of the unofficial side events of INC-4, ERIA co-organized a thematic seminar with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and IGES, in collaboration with OECD, IUCN and NIVA on April 22nd 2024. The seminar shed light on Asian countries’ initiatives to tackle plastic pollution, as well as OECD’s forthcoming Regional Plastics Outlook Report focusing on Asia, and discussed the importance of monitoring, among others, as ways to address this problem. The participants actively explored opportunities to further enhance efforts to reduce marine plastics debris, with the purpose of contributing to the global plastics treaty.
ERIA, as an accredited Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) of UNEA, submitted a statement to the Opening Plenary of INC-4, held on 23rd November 2024. In this statement, ERIA pointed out that many individual ASEAN Member States as well as ASEAN as a region have multiplied their efforts to combat plastic pollution, but in order for them to achieve the ambitious targets put forth in their objectives, further support in the fields of capacity building, infrastructure development and resource mobilization are required. While underscoring its support for the INC process, ERIA also emphasized the importance of keeping the solutions practical and pragmatic, allowing countries with high aspirations to navigate through the inevitable challenges and keep the momentum moving forward.
On April 24th 2024, a thematic side event titled, 'Plastic pollution in the marine environment' was held as one of the official side events of INC-4. At this occasion, Mr Kawamura, Director for the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA shared with the audience, the status quo of the plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region, and the many initiatives carried out by the Asian countries. After a brief introduction of OECD’s Regional Plastics Outlook report for which ERIA is a partner, he listed initiatives undertaken collectively by ASEAN as a region, and individually by different ASEAN Member States to combat plastic pollution. Application of EPR for plastics are introduced or under consideration by many ASEAN countries, continued Mr Kawamura, supported by various relevant knowledge hubs in the region, including the Regional Knowledge Center of ERIA. He ended his intervention by sharing his hope that the upcoming international treaty would reflect the strong willingness and commitment expressed by ASEAN and its member states.
Director of the Knowledge Centre
