Vientiane, 23 August 2023: Experts and representatives of the ASEAN+3 Member States gathered in Vientiane, Laos PDR, for the Regional Knowledge Sharing and Identification of Opportunities for Enhanced Reduction of Marine Plastics Debris hybrid seminar, to discuss the progress and challenges of national and regional efforts in addressing marine plastic pollution. The speakers and panellists underscored the critical role of knowledge sharing in supporting and harmonising data-driven policymaking in the region.
The seminar, part of the commemoration of 50 years of ASEAN-Japan collaboration, gathered insights for enhanced marine plastic reduction and showcased progress made by ASEAN countries in light of the upcoming internationally legally binding plastic treaty.
Mr Kotaro Fuji, Director of the Marine Plastic Pollution Office at Japan's Ministry of Environment (MOEJ), emphasised in his opening remarks the importance of strengthening collaboration between Japan and ASEAN Member States (AMS) on marine plastic pollution.
‘We would like to help create an effective instrument involving many countries, including those in the Asia Pacific region,’ he said.
Dr Yasuhiko Hotta, Programme Director of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Area at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), set the stage for the discussion with a presentation highlighting the significance of knowledge sharing in harmonising relevant policies within ASEAN.
Dr Hotta, quoting from the G20 report Efforts on Actions Against Marine Plastic Litter, said two-thirds of bilateral and multilateral initiatives by G20 countries are concentrated in Southeast Asia. He stressed the importance of good policy coordination, harmonisation, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to ensure these initiatives are effectively implemented.
‘We believe the national action plans for marine plastic pollution could be an important instrument to coordinate and harmonise efforts both at the national and international level. They show the priorities and needs of each country so international donors can provide more effective support,’ he said.
Dr Hotta also highlighted the importance of avoiding the duplication of ongoing efforts and supporting the existing network of platforms to share data and knowledge essential for data-driven policymaking.
Mr Somvang Bouttavong, Director of the Water Utilisation Management Division, Lao PDR Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), also shared his country's progress in combating plastic pollution and the challenges it faces.
Mr Bouttavong presented the latest data on plastic waste generation collected from six cities in Lao PDR, showing that only 6.5% of more than 60,000 tons of generated plastic waste is recycled and 10% enters waterways. The rest, unfortunately, ends up in landfills or leaks into the environment.
Mr Bouttavong said that the Lao PDR government has identified several key challenges to addressing this emerging issue, including unclear strategy, overlapping roles and responsibilities, limited funding leading to limited waste management capacity, and lack of awareness on the importance of waste segregation at the source.
Lao PDR has taken concrete actions to reduce plastic pollution, most notably the development of the National Plastics Action Plan (NPAP) and implementation of a public awareness campaign on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R).
Implementing National Action Plans
Dr Vu Dinh Hieu, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Institute of Seas and Islands (VISI), Viet Nam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), opened the panel discussion by sharing the background story of his country's role in pioneering the development of AMS national action plans, and emphasised the importance of setting targets.
‘Viet Nam is committed to leading the way in Southeast Asia by crafting and implementing meaningful policies to address marine plastic waste pollution,’ he said, before highlighting his country's revised Law on Environmental Protection, which includes recycling responsibilities for producers and importers.
Ms Palina Khotphouthone, Deputy Director of the Environmental Policy Division, Lao PDR MoNRE, spoke on the progress of the National Plastics Action Plan (NPAP) for Lao PDR (2023-2030) and preparations for its implementation.
She described MoNRE led coordination involving five other relevant ministries and the private sector to gather input for the action plan draft for effective implementation.
‘Overall, the private sector has shown a positive response and has pledged to participate in the implementation of relevant activities. Another important update is that we are currently preparing project proposals to international partners to secure funding. It is now under consideration,’ she said.
Ms Heidi Savelli-Soderberg, Programme Officer at the Marine and Freshwater Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), shared information on the monitoring and reporting mechanisms of the implementation of national action plans.
Ms Savelli-Soderberg said UNEP has been mandated to support the development and implementation of national action plans on the topic, to facilitate ad-hoc and regular coordination of actions among different actors, and to look at the harmonisation of approaches to best measure and monitor progress.
‘We are looking at how digital platforms can help and assist in knowledge management, not only for tracking progress-related data but also for documenting different steps where progress has not been made,’ she said.
Mr Peter Börkey, Principal Administrator at the Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), outlined the work undertaken by his organisation in support of regional efforts to address plastic pollution. He emphasised that the OECD’s focus is on data and analysis to support policymaking.
‘One focus area in which ASEAN can make significant strides is in overcoming data limitations. We are happy to share with you that we are teaming up with ERIA and IGES to downscale the Global Plastics Outlook to the ASEAN+3 region to help improve the data situation, and, at the same time, to come up with deeper insights on what drives plastic use and waste generation, and what policy measures as well as policy packages can help to address the very fast growth of use, waste generation, and leakage. We aim to complete it by the end of 2024,’ he said.
Mr Michikazu Kojima, ERIA Senior Advisor to the President on Environmental Issues, joined the discussion by sharing the most recent updates on relevant policies in each AMS.
‘The Philippines has updated the regulation this year that includes a target increase for the recycling rate from 20% this year to 80% in a few years. Singapore is set to introduce a deposit and refund system in 2025. Indonesia mandates producers and shops to develop plans to reduce plastic packaging and containers. Viet Nam is also preparing to apply EPR [extended producer responsibility] on various items based on the revised Law on Environmental Protection,’ he said.
At the conclusion of the session, moderator Dr Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, Principle Researcher/Director of the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET), summarised the key takeaway messages.
● Emphasis on knowledge sharing. The meeting highlighted the critical role of knowledge sharing in supporting and harmonising data-driven policymaking in the ASEAN+3 region. It recognised that sharing information and best practices is essential to effectively address marine plastic pollution.
● National action plans as a coordinating tool. National action plans for marine plastic pollution are important instruments for coordinating and harmonising efforts at both the national and international levels. These plans help identify each country's priorities and needs, allowing international donors to provide more effective support.
● Challenges in plastic waste management. The meeting shed light on the challenges facing countries in managing plastic waste, including unclear strategies, overlapping responsibilities, limited funding, and the need for increased waste management capacity. These challenges underscore the importance of coordinated efforts to combat plastic pollution.
● Collaboration and funding. Several countries are actively collaborating with international partners and organisations to secure funding for initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. The private sector has also shown a positive response and commitment to participating in relevant activities.
● Data and analysis for informed policy. Overcoming data limitations and enhancing data availability are crucial steps in addressing plastic pollution. Collaborations with organisations such as the OECD, ERIA and IGES, and efforts to downscale the Global Plastics Outlook to the ASEAN+3 region, provide deeper insights into the drivers of plastic usage, waste generation, and leakage, ultimately informing effective policy measures and packages.Also read: ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Symposium: the Launching of the ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution
Knowledge Management Associate
Vientiane, 23 August 2023: Experts and representatives of the ASEAN+3 Member States gathered in Vientiane, Laos PDR, for the Regional Knowledge Sharing and Identification of Opportunities for Enhanced Reduction of Marine Plastics Debris hybrid seminar, to discuss the progress and challenges of national and regional efforts in addressing marine plastic pollution. The speakers and panellists underscored the critical role of knowledge sharing in supporting and harmonising data-driven policymaking in the region.
The seminar, part of the commemoration of 50 years of ASEAN-Japan collaboration, gathered insights for enhanced marine plastic reduction and showcased progress made by ASEAN countries in light of the upcoming internationally legally binding plastic treaty.
Mr Kotaro Fuji, Director of the Marine Plastic Pollution Office at Japan's Ministry of Environment (MOEJ), emphasised in his opening remarks the importance of strengthening collaboration between Japan and ASEAN Member States (AMS) on marine plastic pollution.
‘We would like to help create an effective instrument involving many countries, including those in the Asia Pacific region,’ he said.
Dr Yasuhiko Hotta, Programme Director of the Sustainable Consumption and Production Area at the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), set the stage for the discussion with a presentation highlighting the significance of knowledge sharing in harmonising relevant policies within ASEAN.
Dr Hotta, quoting from the G20 report Efforts on Actions Against Marine Plastic Litter, said two-thirds of bilateral and multilateral initiatives by G20 countries are concentrated in Southeast Asia. He stressed the importance of good policy coordination, harmonisation, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms to ensure these initiatives are effectively implemented.
‘We believe the national action plans for marine plastic pollution could be an important instrument to coordinate and harmonise efforts both at the national and international level. They show the priorities and needs of each country so international donors can provide more effective support,’ he said.
Dr Hotta also highlighted the importance of avoiding the duplication of ongoing efforts and supporting the existing network of platforms to share data and knowledge essential for data-driven policymaking.
Mr Somvang Bouttavong, Director of the Water Utilisation Management Division, Lao PDR Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), also shared his country's progress in combating plastic pollution and the challenges it faces.
Mr Bouttavong presented the latest data on plastic waste generation collected from six cities in Lao PDR, showing that only 6.5% of more than 60,000 tons of generated plastic waste is recycled and 10% enters waterways. The rest, unfortunately, ends up in landfills or leaks into the environment.
Mr Bouttavong said that the Lao PDR government has identified several key challenges to addressing this emerging issue, including unclear strategy, overlapping roles and responsibilities, limited funding leading to limited waste management capacity, and lack of awareness on the importance of waste segregation at the source.
Lao PDR has taken concrete actions to reduce plastic pollution, most notably the development of the National Plastics Action Plan (NPAP) and implementation of a public awareness campaign on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R).
Implementing National Action Plans
Dr Vu Dinh Hieu, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam Institute of Seas and Islands (VISI), Viet Nam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), opened the panel discussion by sharing the background story of his country's role in pioneering the development of AMS national action plans, and emphasised the importance of setting targets.
‘Viet Nam is committed to leading the way in Southeast Asia by crafting and implementing meaningful policies to address marine plastic waste pollution,’ he said, before highlighting his country's revised Law on Environmental Protection, which includes recycling responsibilities for producers and importers.
Ms Palina Khotphouthone, Deputy Director of the Environmental Policy Division, Lao PDR MoNRE, spoke on the progress of the National Plastics Action Plan (NPAP) for Lao PDR (2023-2030) and preparations for its implementation.
She described MoNRE led coordination involving five other relevant ministries and the private sector to gather input for the action plan draft for effective implementation.
‘Overall, the private sector has shown a positive response and has pledged to participate in the implementation of relevant activities. Another important update is that we are currently preparing project proposals to international partners to secure funding. It is now under consideration,’ she said.
Ms Heidi Savelli-Soderberg, Programme Officer at the Marine and Freshwater Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), shared information on the monitoring and reporting mechanisms of the implementation of national action plans.
Ms Savelli-Soderberg said UNEP has been mandated to support the development and implementation of national action plans on the topic, to facilitate ad-hoc and regular coordination of actions among different actors, and to look at the harmonisation of approaches to best measure and monitor progress.
‘We are looking at how digital platforms can help and assist in knowledge management, not only for tracking progress-related data but also for documenting different steps where progress has not been made,’ she said.
Mr Peter Börkey, Principal Administrator at the Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), outlined the work undertaken by his organisation in support of regional efforts to address plastic pollution. He emphasised that the OECD’s focus is on data and analysis to support policymaking.
‘One focus area in which ASEAN can make significant strides is in overcoming data limitations. We are happy to share with you that we are teaming up with ERIA and IGES to downscale the Global Plastics Outlook to the ASEAN+3 region to help improve the data situation, and, at the same time, to come up with deeper insights on what drives plastic use and waste generation, and what policy measures as well as policy packages can help to address the very fast growth of use, waste generation, and leakage. We aim to complete it by the end of 2024,’ he said.
Mr Michikazu Kojima, ERIA Senior Advisor to the President on Environmental Issues, joined the discussion by sharing the most recent updates on relevant policies in each AMS.
‘The Philippines has updated the regulation this year that includes a target increase for the recycling rate from 20% this year to 80% in a few years. Singapore is set to introduce a deposit and refund system in 2025. Indonesia mandates producers and shops to develop plans to reduce plastic packaging and containers. Viet Nam is also preparing to apply EPR [extended producer responsibility] on various items based on the revised Law on Environmental Protection,’ he said.
At the conclusion of the session, moderator Dr Premakumara Jagath Dickella Gamaralalage, Principle Researcher/Director of the IGES Centre Collaborating with UNEP on Environmental Technologies (CCET), summarised the key takeaway messages.
● Emphasis on knowledge sharing. The meeting highlighted the critical role of knowledge sharing in supporting and harmonising data-driven policymaking in the ASEAN+3 region. It recognised that sharing information and best practices is essential to effectively address marine plastic pollution.
● National action plans as a coordinating tool. National action plans for marine plastic pollution are important instruments for coordinating and harmonising efforts at both the national and international levels. These plans help identify each country's priorities and needs, allowing international donors to provide more effective support.
● Challenges in plastic waste management. The meeting shed light on the challenges facing countries in managing plastic waste, including unclear strategies, overlapping responsibilities, limited funding, and the need for increased waste management capacity. These challenges underscore the importance of coordinated efforts to combat plastic pollution.
● Collaboration and funding. Several countries are actively collaborating with international partners and organisations to secure funding for initiatives to reduce plastic pollution. The private sector has also shown a positive response and commitment to participating in relevant activities.
● Data and analysis for informed policy. Overcoming data limitations and enhancing data availability are crucial steps in addressing plastic pollution. Collaborations with organisations such as the OECD, ERIA and IGES, and efforts to downscale the Global Plastics Outlook to the ASEAN+3 region, provide deeper insights into the drivers of plastic usage, waste generation, and leakage, ultimately informing effective policy measures and packages.Also read: ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Symposium: the Launching of the ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution
Knowledge Management Associate
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