Ottawa, 30 April 2024: An ERIA delegation led by Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre) took part in a number of salient activities in the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), from 23-29 April 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
Summary
1. Asia in Focus: Multi-Stakeholder Knowledge Sharing on Plastic Initiatives
ERIA co-organised a thematic seminar with Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Institute for Global Environmental Studies (IGES) as one of the unofficial side events of INC-4, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) on 22 April 2024.
The seminar shed light on Asian country initiatives to tackle plastic pollution, as well as OECD’s forthcoming Regional Plastics Outlook Report focusing on Asia, and discussed the importance of monitoring, among others, as ways to address this problem. The participants actively explored opportunities to further enhance efforts to reduce marine plastics debris to contributeto the global plastics treaty.
ERIA, as an accredited United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) intergovernmental organisation (IGO), submitted a statement to the INC-4 Opening Plenary, held on 23 April2024. ERIA pointed out that many individual ASEAN Member States (AMS), as well as ASEAN as a region, have multiplied their efforts to combat plastic pollution, but for them to achieve the ambitious targets put forth in their objectives, further support in the fields of capacity building, infrastructure development and resource mobilisation isrequired. While underscoring its support for the INC process, ERIA also emphasised the importance of keeping the solutions practical and pragmatic, allowing countries with high aspirations to navigate through the inevitable challenges and keep the momentum moving forward.
A thematic official side event on plastic pollution in the marine environment, was held on 24 April. Mr Reo Kawamura, Director ofthe Centre, spoke of the status quo of plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region, and the many initiatives carried out by Asian countries. After a brief introduction of OECD’s Regional Plastics Outlook report, for which ERIA is a partner, he listed initiatives to combat plastic pollution undertaken collectively by ASEAN as a region, and individually by different AMS. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastics has been introduced or is under consideration by many ASEAN countries, he said, supported by various relevant knowledge hubs in the region, including the Centre. Mr Kawamura also said he hoped the upcoming international treaty would reflect the strong willingness and commitment expressed by ASEAN and its member states.
Director of the Knowledge Centre
Ottawa, 30 April 2024: An ERIA delegation led by Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre) took part in a number of salient activities in the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), from 23-29 April 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
Summary
1. Asia in Focus: Multi-Stakeholder Knowledge Sharing on Plastic Initiatives
ERIA co-organised a thematic seminar with Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Institute for Global Environmental Studies (IGES) as one of the unofficial side events of INC-4, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) on 22 April 2024.
The seminar shed light on Asian country initiatives to tackle plastic pollution, as well as OECD’s forthcoming Regional Plastics Outlook Report focusing on Asia, and discussed the importance of monitoring, among others, as ways to address this problem. The participants actively explored opportunities to further enhance efforts to reduce marine plastics debris to contributeto the global plastics treaty.
ERIA, as an accredited United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) intergovernmental organisation (IGO), submitted a statement to the INC-4 Opening Plenary, held on 23 April2024. ERIA pointed out that many individual ASEAN Member States (AMS), as well as ASEAN as a region, have multiplied their efforts to combat plastic pollution, but for them to achieve the ambitious targets put forth in their objectives, further support in the fields of capacity building, infrastructure development and resource mobilisation isrequired. While underscoring its support for the INC process, ERIA also emphasised the importance of keeping the solutions practical and pragmatic, allowing countries with high aspirations to navigate through the inevitable challenges and keep the momentum moving forward.
A thematic official side event on plastic pollution in the marine environment, was held on 24 April. Mr Reo Kawamura, Director ofthe Centre, spoke of the status quo of plastic pollution in the ASEAN+3 region, and the many initiatives carried out by Asian countries. After a brief introduction of OECD’s Regional Plastics Outlook report, for which ERIA is a partner, he listed initiatives to combat plastic pollution undertaken collectively by ASEAN as a region, and individually by different AMS. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for plastics has been introduced or is under consideration by many ASEAN countries, he said, supported by various relevant knowledge hubs in the region, including the Centre. Mr Kawamura also said he hoped the upcoming international treaty would reflect the strong willingness and commitment expressed by ASEAN and its member states.
Director of the Knowledge Centre
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