Bangkok, March 6 2024: ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre), in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), organised the fifth ERIA's Experts Working Group (EWG) on Marine Plastic Debris Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
The first day of the meeting focused on strategies to address marine plastic pollution in ASEAN+3 through knowledge sharing and data, tools, technology, and monitoring.
During her keynote speech, Dr Noriko Tamiya-Hase, Deputy Director of the Office of Policies against Marine Plastic Pollution, Japan's Ministry of the Environment, addressed global insights and regional actions, highlighting the importance of the role of the private sector in effectively tackling plastic pollution. She also said Japan would launch a database and mapping system of ocean surface microplastics in the coming spring that would be globally accessible through an open data system. She expressed her hope for the EWG to keep making tangible outputs for the benefit of the ASEAN+3 region.
Knowledge Sharing
Ms Ayako Mizuno, the Centre's Programme Manager, gave an update on the ongoing ERIA-IGES partnership. Two projects are the World Bank’s Knowledge and Partnerships Platform of the Southeast Asia Regional Programme on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP KPP), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on the plastics outlook for the Asia Pacific Plastics.
ERIA and IGES will also continue to collaborate on extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a policy tool to combat marine plastics, and a behavioural change project on single-use plastic, both to ensure timely and pertinent input to the realisation of the Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris (2021-2025) by the ASEAN Member States (AMS).
Dr Peeraporn Palapleevalya, Country Expert, Secretary-General, Sustainable Consumption and Production Association of Thailand, spoke of the implementation of The Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform on Closed-Loop Plastic Packaging across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam with support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). The platform aims to involve all stakeholders in effectively supporting plastic waste management at the national and regional levels by supporting an innovative ecosystem to develop a closed-loop plastic packaging infrastructure.
Data, Tools, Technology and Monitoring
Dr Chen Liu, IGES Research Manager of Sustainable Consumption and Production, gave an update on her study on the Comparative Analysis of Face Mask Usage and its Potential Environmental Impact in Asian Cities during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. As COVID-19 caused a surge in face mask usage and increased the burden on plastic waste management, it was essential to find sustainable alternatives to masks. The study concluded it was crucial to find a balance between health protection and environmental sustainability.
Mr Dwayne Appleby, IGES Programme Manager, Sustainable Consumption and Production, shared the results of case studies from the Behaviour Insight Project in four countries, where behavioural interventions led to compelling results in reducing plastic consumption. The upcoming second phase will build on the pilot project's practical toolkit and key insights and explore further scale up, not just in terms of output but also with regard to expanding regional partnerships.
Dr Britta Denise Hardesty, Senior Principal Research Scientist, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), gave a presentation on Integrating CSIRO's Tool for Establishing Plastic Leakage Baselines with Data Standardisation and Harmonisation Efforts in Marine Monitoring Programmes. She spoke of the value of data sharing and transparency and the importance of consistency, interoperability, and harmonisation in data sharing. On harmonisation efforts, she explained the importance of applying a consistent approach across countries so legitimate comparisons could be made.
Prof Dr Daoji Li, Professor, State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, gave a presentation on the progress of UN Ocean Decade Action and the progress of the microplastic research programme at the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sub-commission for the Western Pacific. He also spoke of the progress and activities of microplastic studies in the WESTPAC Microplastic Research Programme.
Mr Suwan Nanthasarut, Environmental Expert, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand; and Ms Vararin Vongpanich, Focal Point of ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME), Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, gave a presentation on enhancing marine debris monitoring, capacity building, and assessment initiatives in Thailand.
The presentation highlighted the status and results of Thai government collaboration with various organisations, and its efforts to tackle marine plastic debris such as monitoring in marine ecosystems and analysis methodologies, regional training of trainers on monitoring and assessment of marine plastic litter and microplastics, fisheries management, collaboration with the Ocean Cleanup, pathways and movement of river plastic, river monitoring systems, and national action plans on marine debris development.
Dr Guilberto Borongan, Director of the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and Pacific (RRC.AP) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), presented the results of the ERIA funded phase one project on the Technical Guidelines for Plastics and Resin Pellets Leakage Prevention from Factories and Informal Recycling Sector in ASEAN, which produced situation assessment reports and technical guidelines/guidebook.
The project aims to enhance understanding of plastic and pellet leakage in the marine environment stemming from recycling activities, and provide governments with policy and technical support. It also seeks to establish a network among key stakeholders and increase awareness about recycling-related plastic pollution through workshops.
Dr Yet Yin Hee, a researcher and ERIA consultant based in Malaysia, delivered a progress report on Monitoring Bioindicator Development for the ASEAN Region to Assess Marine Plastic Pollution. He highlighted the key findings of the project survey from 2023, which focused on investigating marine litter monitoring programmes in ASEAN nations, focusing on sampling, laboratory equipment availability, funding sources, capacity building, stakeholder perceptions regarding biota selection, and expected support from ERIA. Survey findings highlighted the presence of marine litter monitoring programmes in ASEAN countries, with some nations showing proactive efforts while others exhibited gaps.
Dr Maria Antonia Tanchuling, Professor and Director, UP Institute of Civil Engineering, recommended the Harmonised Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in Sewage Treatment Plants and Riverine Environments in ASEAN. She presented recommended harmonised protocols for microplastic sampling, treatment, analysis, and monitoring at sewage treatment facilities and receiving rivers.
Day 1 of the meeting also included animated group discussions revolving around two themes.
● Knowledge Sharing/Information Exchange: Enhancing Strategies Against Plastic Pollution (facilitated by Ms Ayako Mizuno and Ms Chochoe Devaporihartakula, IGES Programme Manager.
● Data, Tools, Technology, and Monitoring (facilitated by Dr Vivek Anand Asokan, IGES Policy Researcher).
The Experts Working Group on Marine Plastic Debris meeting provided valuable insights into ongoing efforts and future strategies for addressing marine plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region. The collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, academia, non-government organisations (NGOs), and the private sector, underscores the collective commitment to finding sustainable solutions to this pressing environmental issue.
Communication Officer
Bangkok, March 6 2024: ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre), in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), organised the fifth ERIA's Experts Working Group (EWG) on Marine Plastic Debris Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
The first day of the meeting focused on strategies to address marine plastic pollution in ASEAN+3 through knowledge sharing and data, tools, technology, and monitoring.
During her keynote speech, Dr Noriko Tamiya-Hase, Deputy Director of the Office of Policies against Marine Plastic Pollution, Japan's Ministry of the Environment, addressed global insights and regional actions, highlighting the importance of the role of the private sector in effectively tackling plastic pollution. She also said Japan would launch a database and mapping system of ocean surface microplastics in the coming spring that would be globally accessible through an open data system. She expressed her hope for the EWG to keep making tangible outputs for the benefit of the ASEAN+3 region.
Knowledge Sharing
Ms Ayako Mizuno, the Centre's Programme Manager, gave an update on the ongoing ERIA-IGES partnership. Two projects are the World Bank’s Knowledge and Partnerships Platform of the Southeast Asia Regional Programme on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP KPP), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on the plastics outlook for the Asia Pacific Plastics.
ERIA and IGES will also continue to collaborate on extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a policy tool to combat marine plastics, and a behavioural change project on single-use plastic, both to ensure timely and pertinent input to the realisation of the Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris (2021-2025) by the ASEAN Member States (AMS).
Dr Peeraporn Palapleevalya, Country Expert, Secretary-General, Sustainable Consumption and Production Association of Thailand, spoke of the implementation of The Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform on Closed-Loop Plastic Packaging across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam with support from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). The platform aims to involve all stakeholders in effectively supporting plastic waste management at the national and regional levels by supporting an innovative ecosystem to develop a closed-loop plastic packaging infrastructure.
Data, Tools, Technology and Monitoring
Dr Chen Liu, IGES Research Manager of Sustainable Consumption and Production, gave an update on her study on the Comparative Analysis of Face Mask Usage and its Potential Environmental Impact in Asian Cities during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic. As COVID-19 caused a surge in face mask usage and increased the burden on plastic waste management, it was essential to find sustainable alternatives to masks. The study concluded it was crucial to find a balance between health protection and environmental sustainability.
Mr Dwayne Appleby, IGES Programme Manager, Sustainable Consumption and Production, shared the results of case studies from the Behaviour Insight Project in four countries, where behavioural interventions led to compelling results in reducing plastic consumption. The upcoming second phase will build on the pilot project's practical toolkit and key insights and explore further scale up, not just in terms of output but also with regard to expanding regional partnerships.
Dr Britta Denise Hardesty, Senior Principal Research Scientist, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), gave a presentation on Integrating CSIRO's Tool for Establishing Plastic Leakage Baselines with Data Standardisation and Harmonisation Efforts in Marine Monitoring Programmes. She spoke of the value of data sharing and transparency and the importance of consistency, interoperability, and harmonisation in data sharing. On harmonisation efforts, she explained the importance of applying a consistent approach across countries so legitimate comparisons could be made.
Prof Dr Daoji Li, Professor, State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, gave a presentation on the progress of UN Ocean Decade Action and the progress of the microplastic research programme at the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) sub-commission for the Western Pacific. He also spoke of the progress and activities of microplastic studies in the WESTPAC Microplastic Research Programme.
Mr Suwan Nanthasarut, Environmental Expert, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand; and Ms Vararin Vongpanich, Focal Point of ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME), Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, gave a presentation on enhancing marine debris monitoring, capacity building, and assessment initiatives in Thailand.
The presentation highlighted the status and results of Thai government collaboration with various organisations, and its efforts to tackle marine plastic debris such as monitoring in marine ecosystems and analysis methodologies, regional training of trainers on monitoring and assessment of marine plastic litter and microplastics, fisheries management, collaboration with the Ocean Cleanup, pathways and movement of river plastic, river monitoring systems, and national action plans on marine debris development.
Dr Guilberto Borongan, Director of the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and Pacific (RRC.AP) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), presented the results of the ERIA funded phase one project on the Technical Guidelines for Plastics and Resin Pellets Leakage Prevention from Factories and Informal Recycling Sector in ASEAN, which produced situation assessment reports and technical guidelines/guidebook.
The project aims to enhance understanding of plastic and pellet leakage in the marine environment stemming from recycling activities, and provide governments with policy and technical support. It also seeks to establish a network among key stakeholders and increase awareness about recycling-related plastic pollution through workshops.
Dr Yet Yin Hee, a researcher and ERIA consultant based in Malaysia, delivered a progress report on Monitoring Bioindicator Development for the ASEAN Region to Assess Marine Plastic Pollution. He highlighted the key findings of the project survey from 2023, which focused on investigating marine litter monitoring programmes in ASEAN nations, focusing on sampling, laboratory equipment availability, funding sources, capacity building, stakeholder perceptions regarding biota selection, and expected support from ERIA. Survey findings highlighted the presence of marine litter monitoring programmes in ASEAN countries, with some nations showing proactive efforts while others exhibited gaps.
Dr Maria Antonia Tanchuling, Professor and Director, UP Institute of Civil Engineering, recommended the Harmonised Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in Sewage Treatment Plants and Riverine Environments in ASEAN. She presented recommended harmonised protocols for microplastic sampling, treatment, analysis, and monitoring at sewage treatment facilities and receiving rivers.
Day 1 of the meeting also included animated group discussions revolving around two themes.
● Knowledge Sharing/Information Exchange: Enhancing Strategies Against Plastic Pollution (facilitated by Ms Ayako Mizuno and Ms Chochoe Devaporihartakula, IGES Programme Manager.
● Data, Tools, Technology, and Monitoring (facilitated by Dr Vivek Anand Asokan, IGES Policy Researcher).
The Experts Working Group on Marine Plastic Debris meeting provided valuable insights into ongoing efforts and future strategies for addressing marine plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region. The collaboration among stakeholders, including governments, academia, non-government organisations (NGOs), and the private sector, underscores the collective commitment to finding sustainable solutions to this pressing environmental issue.
Communication Officer
