Online Workshop "Strengthening Capacity for Marine Debris Reduction and Waste Management in ASEAN Region through Knowledge Sharing on Marine Litter"

To enhance both national and regional actions to tackle marine debris, ASEAN agreed on ASEAN Framework on Action on Marine Debris. In addition, G20 agreed on the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision as well as G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter in June 2019. These international agreements emphasize the importance of science-based decisions and policies on marine plastic litter and plastic pollution management.

In line with the ASEAN+3 initiative, Japan has conducted the JAIF (Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund) funded project targeting the ASEAN member states to tackle the marine plastic litter. From 2021, the second phase of the project will be started in the selected countries (Cambodia, Myanmar) to develop National Action Plans (NAPs) on marine plastic litter and monitor the leakages into the ocean.

Another significant initiative is the establishment of the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). As a key regional clearinghouse on marine plastic debris in ASEAN+3 countries, this information hub has high potentials to accelerate knowledge sharing and capacity development in the ASEAN region.

With this as a background, this workshop is co-organized by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, Indonesia, and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, to support the ASEAN+3 Marine Plastics Debris Cooperative Action Initiative for implementation of the G20 Agreements and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris, to emphasize science and policy collaboration.

Towards this end, this Workshop is to share 1) the best practices in relation to the National Action Plans (NAPs) of AMS and the output of JAIF Phase I project, 2) recognition on the importance of scientific approach for policy implementation; 3) good practices in monitoring of generation and leakages of marine plastic litter, and 4) public-private-partnership for awareness raising, prevention and management of marine plastic debris.

The outline of the workshop is as shown below.