Bangkok, 4 March 2024: In efforts towards achieving the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision to reduce additional marine plastic pollution to zero by 2050, The Ministry of Environment of Japan (MOEJ), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia), supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) organised a semi-closed hybrid expert and policy dialogue on two global assessments on policy responses to plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region. 

This policy dialogue brought together experts and policy makers across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region to exchange insights and opinions on existing policies to combat plastic pollution in the region, particularly as will be reported on the upcoming OECD Regional Plastic Outlook and annual G20 Report on Actions Against Marine Plastic Litter. 

In his opening remarks, Mr. Hiroshi Ono, Senior Advisor to the Minister of the Environment of the Government of Japan, Vice Chair and Bureau Member of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for plastic pollution representing the Asia-Pacific Group, and Special Policy Advisor to IGES expressed his hopes that the dialogue would support planning and implementing actions to combat marine plastic litter in the region through evidence-based policy making. 

During this opportunity, Dr. Ruben Bibas, Economist at the OECD, presented preliminary findings from the OECD’s report which included an analysis of the current state and projection of plastic flows in the ASEAN+3 Member States under different policy scenarios. The final version of the report is scheduled to be published at the end of the year. Mr. Ran Yagasa, Policy Researcher on Sustainable Consumption and Production at IGES presented an overview of National Action Plans of the G20 Member States from the annual G20 report which was published in 2023. This report has been compiled since 2019 by the Presidency of G20 each year, supported by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan and IGES as part of the G20 Initiatives on Marine Plastic Litter. 

After each presentation, dialogue participants, which included representatives of ASEAN Member States as well as members of the ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste (AWGCW), the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME), and ERIA’s Experts Working Group on Marine Plastic Debris were given the opportunity to raise questions or comments and provide insights from their respective countries which will be used to further enrich the reports. 

In his conclusion, Mr. Michikazu Kojima, Senior Advisor of ERIA Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, expressed appreciation for everyone involved in this dialogue, noting the importance of regional coordination and collaboration for advancing efforts to address the complex issue of marine plastic pollution.  

This dialogue was held back-to-back with the Regional Consultations of the Asia-Pacific States in preparation for the Fourth Session of the INC held on 5th-6th March 2024. 

Photo credit: Chochoe Devaporihartakula