Jakarta, 7 January 2021: The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and ERIA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote data-driven policy-making and knowledge dissemination over the next five years.
The MoU covers comprehensive collaboration between the two institutions, but the initial focus is on the promotion of a circular economy, such as the prevention of marine plastic pollution. The first collaborative project, the Data-Driven Policy Research Programme on Marine Plastic Debris, will be implemented jointly through ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre). An IGES staff member has recently been seconded to ERIA as a project coordinator.
The Southeast Asian region has increased its resource consumption in recent years due to its high population density and rapid economic growth. Motivated by the alarming recognition that Southeast Asia and East Asia have become the biggest contributors to marine plastic pollution, ERIA established the Centre in October 2019 with financial support from the Japanese government. The Centre serves as an information clearing house on marine plastic pollution in ASEAN+3 countries, aiming to facilitate national and regional cooperation by promoting relevant policies and good practices among the member states.
IGES has longstanding expertise in the areas of circular economy and resource efficiency, and experience in many international efforts, including policy advisory activities for Southeast Asian countries on marine debris, along with its technical contributions to the G20 process.
ERIA has contributed to conducting research and policy analyses to facilitate the building of the ASEAN Economic Community, promoting wide economic integration and sustainable development in East Asia, and narrowing development gaps in the region.
‘IGES is eager to collaborate with ERIA to jointly address the pressing problem of marine plastic litter in the region. Through this collaboration, my hope is for IGES to contribute, more broadly to the promotion of a more circular economy and sustainable policymaking,’ said Mr Kazuhiko Takeuchi, IGES President.
‘We have identified IGES as our valuable partner, given the rich expertise they have in policy recommendations towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns in Asia. I hope that this MoU will be the beginning of a fruitful institutional collaboration towards the development of ASEAN and the East Asia region’ said Mr Hidetoshi Nishimura, ERIA President.
The challenge of marine plastic pollution is emblematic of the globalised world in which we live, where one country alone cannot provide long-lasting solutions to a collective problem. Being aware of the need to tackle this issue regionally IGES and ERIA, with the full engagement and support of the ASEAN+3 member states, will utilise their expertise to formulate regional policy recommendations by promoting the circular economy as the key to sustainability in the region.
Read more: IGES and ERIA Joint Press Release
Communication Desk
Jakarta, 7 January 2021: The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and ERIA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote data-driven policy-making and knowledge dissemination over the next five years.
The MoU covers comprehensive collaboration between the two institutions, but the initial focus is on the promotion of a circular economy, such as the prevention of marine plastic pollution. The first collaborative project, the Data-Driven Policy Research Programme on Marine Plastic Debris, will be implemented jointly through ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre). An IGES staff member has recently been seconded to ERIA as a project coordinator.
The Southeast Asian region has increased its resource consumption in recent years due to its high population density and rapid economic growth. Motivated by the alarming recognition that Southeast Asia and East Asia have become the biggest contributors to marine plastic pollution, ERIA established the Centre in October 2019 with financial support from the Japanese government. The Centre serves as an information clearing house on marine plastic pollution in ASEAN+3 countries, aiming to facilitate national and regional cooperation by promoting relevant policies and good practices among the member states.
IGES has longstanding expertise in the areas of circular economy and resource efficiency, and experience in many international efforts, including policy advisory activities for Southeast Asian countries on marine debris, along with its technical contributions to the G20 process.
ERIA has contributed to conducting research and policy analyses to facilitate the building of the ASEAN Economic Community, promoting wide economic integration and sustainable development in East Asia, and narrowing development gaps in the region.
‘IGES is eager to collaborate with ERIA to jointly address the pressing problem of marine plastic litter in the region. Through this collaboration, my hope is for IGES to contribute, more broadly to the promotion of a more circular economy and sustainable policymaking,’ said Mr Kazuhiko Takeuchi, IGES President.
‘We have identified IGES as our valuable partner, given the rich expertise they have in policy recommendations towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns in Asia. I hope that this MoU will be the beginning of a fruitful institutional collaboration towards the development of ASEAN and the East Asia region’ said Mr Hidetoshi Nishimura, ERIA President.
The challenge of marine plastic pollution is emblematic of the globalised world in which we live, where one country alone cannot provide long-lasting solutions to a collective problem. Being aware of the need to tackle this issue regionally IGES and ERIA, with the full engagement and support of the ASEAN+3 member states, will utilise their expertise to formulate regional policy recommendations by promoting the circular economy as the key to sustainability in the region.
Read more: IGES and ERIA Joint Press Release
Communication Desk
