Overview of Plastic Pollution in East Asia

In recent years, plastic pollution has emerged as a growing threat around the globe. The gravity of this issue called for negotiations on an international legally binding instrument. As an area that is heavily influenced by and reliant on its marine resources, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region views plastic pollution as a pressing issue to be addressed. At the same time, the ASEAN+3 region has been regarded as a hotspot of plastic pollution. For example, Meijer et al. (2021) showed that seven ASEAN+3 countries – China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam – are amongst the top 10 countries with the highest annual plastic emissions into the ocean. Emissions from these seven countries account for about 65% of annual global emissions.