A Symposium commemorating the 50th year of cooperation between ASEAN and Japan was held during the ASEAN-Japan Environment Week in Laos (Aug 22nd-24th 2023).

On August 24th, Mr Reo Kawamura, Director for Environmental Policy and Director for Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD) took part in the Symposium and launched the new “ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution” initiated by the Government of Japan, and elucidated the roles that ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre can play to implement the Action Agenda on the ground.

The ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution has its objectives of:

  • Promoting a full-life-cycle approach and science-based approach for marine plastic measures.
  • Supporting effective, progressive and concrete actions at all levels and stakeholders.
  • To contribute to the development of international legally binding instrument and its implementation.

The expected outcomes of the Action Agenda are to:

  • Support formulation and implementation of national action plans.
  • Promote consolidation and assessment of scientific knowledge.
  • Raise awareness: an inclusive discussion with relevant stakeholders.
  • Enhance knowledge sharing and capacity development through the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA

Ms Kawamura in turn laid out that ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris will support the objectives set forth in the Action Agenda. Some of the salient cooperation already contributing to this effect includes; support to the AMS in making an important input for the formulation of the Global Plastic Treaty to ensure its relevance to the region; information sharing on effective EPR schemes for the ASEAN region as their measure to manage plastic waste; continuous efforts to further consolidate scientific network with relevant research institutes and organizations in the region; establishment of the Experts Working Group on marine plastic debris; implementation of various research projects to support data-driven policy making in the region; realization of a number of awareness raising activities and stakeholder engagement; and finally, activities pertaining to knowledge sharing and capacity development.

Also read: ERIA Participates in 18th ASEAN+3 Environment Ministers Meeting and ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Dialogue on Environmental Cooperation
Photo: Launch of the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution

Photo: Launch of the ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution