Bangkok, 19 August 2024: The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris participated in ‘Plenary Session 6: See, Solutions! Leveraging Partnerships and Resources’ at SEA of Solutions 2024 to discuss existing collaborations and best practices for addressing plastic pollution in the Asia-Pacific region.
During this session, Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre, shared insights on ERIA’s efforts in knowledge sharing with various stakeholders across the region. The panel discussion featured other prominent speakers, including Ms Kate Philp from the World Bank, Mr Alvaro Zurita from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Ms Christina Jäger from the Yunus Environmental Hub, and Mr Patinya Silsupadol from the Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE).
Addressing the regional challenges of plastic pollution, Ms Philp emphasised that while innovation is crucial, improving waste management and waste reduction practices should be prioritised and implemented more rigorously. She also stressed the importance of harmonising, rather than standardising, regional efforts to account for different national contexts.
Supporting this view, Mr Zurita highlighted the distinct realities of Southeast Asia compared to other regions, including differences in government structures. He emphasised GIZ’s approach in facilitating collaborative efforts such as single-use plastic reduction and extended producer responsibility, and the importance of working across different levels of partnerships.
Mr Kawamura highlighted the Regional Knowledge Centre’s role in sharing actionable knowledge through guidelines and toolkits, as well as facilitating dialogues between various stakeholder groups. He also mentioned the Centre’s Private Sector Seminar Series, which brings together private sector representatives and government officials to encourage collaboration and prevent siloed efforts.
Ms Jäger focused on the importance of open dialogue among actors to foster understanding, challenge biases, and ensure the inclusion of underrepresented voices. She stressed that plastic pollution is a systemic issue rooted in a flawed economic model and requires a systemic solution. A just transition is necessary, as the negative impacts of plastic pollution disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Mr Silsupadol added that while plastic pollution is a challenging issue, the urgency forces stakeholders to focus on solutions. He reminded participants that the private sector comprises a wide range of actors, and addressing the problem requires a holistic approach.
To conclude the panel, moderator Ms Sharanjit Leyl invited each panellist to make a pledge to combat plastic pollution. Mr Kawamura pledged to continue transforming accumulated knowledge into practical tools such as toolkits and guidebooks, and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to collaborating with other knowledge partners in the region to achieve shared goals.
SEA of Solutions is the flagship event of SEA Circular, an initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, supported by the Government of Sweden. Held annually, the event provides a platform for discussing strategies to combat plastic pollution. SEA of Solutions 2024 took place in a hybrid format from 18–20 September 2024, with in-person meetings at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The Regional Knowledge Centre’s participation in this event was supported by the ASEAN-German cooperation project implemented by GIZ: ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs’ (3RproMar) Regional Knowledge Hub for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN.
Read more: 3RproMar Regional Knowledge Hub for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN
Research Associate
Bangkok, 19 August 2024: The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris participated in ‘Plenary Session 6: See, Solutions! Leveraging Partnerships and Resources’ at SEA of Solutions 2024 to discuss existing collaborations and best practices for addressing plastic pollution in the Asia-Pacific region.
During this session, Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre, shared insights on ERIA’s efforts in knowledge sharing with various stakeholders across the region. The panel discussion featured other prominent speakers, including Ms Kate Philp from the World Bank, Mr Alvaro Zurita from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Ms Christina Jäger from the Yunus Environmental Hub, and Mr Patinya Silsupadol from the Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE).
Addressing the regional challenges of plastic pollution, Ms Philp emphasised that while innovation is crucial, improving waste management and waste reduction practices should be prioritised and implemented more rigorously. She also stressed the importance of harmonising, rather than standardising, regional efforts to account for different national contexts.
Supporting this view, Mr Zurita highlighted the distinct realities of Southeast Asia compared to other regions, including differences in government structures. He emphasised GIZ’s approach in facilitating collaborative efforts such as single-use plastic reduction and extended producer responsibility, and the importance of working across different levels of partnerships.
Mr Kawamura highlighted the Regional Knowledge Centre’s role in sharing actionable knowledge through guidelines and toolkits, as well as facilitating dialogues between various stakeholder groups. He also mentioned the Centre’s Private Sector Seminar Series, which brings together private sector representatives and government officials to encourage collaboration and prevent siloed efforts.
Ms Jäger focused on the importance of open dialogue among actors to foster understanding, challenge biases, and ensure the inclusion of underrepresented voices. She stressed that plastic pollution is a systemic issue rooted in a flawed economic model and requires a systemic solution. A just transition is necessary, as the negative impacts of plastic pollution disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
Mr Silsupadol added that while plastic pollution is a challenging issue, the urgency forces stakeholders to focus on solutions. He reminded participants that the private sector comprises a wide range of actors, and addressing the problem requires a holistic approach.
To conclude the panel, moderator Ms Sharanjit Leyl invited each panellist to make a pledge to combat plastic pollution. Mr Kawamura pledged to continue transforming accumulated knowledge into practical tools such as toolkits and guidebooks, and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to collaborating with other knowledge partners in the region to achieve shared goals.
SEA of Solutions is the flagship event of SEA Circular, an initiative by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, supported by the Government of Sweden. Held annually, the event provides a platform for discussing strategies to combat plastic pollution. SEA of Solutions 2024 took place in a hybrid format from 18–20 September 2024, with in-person meetings at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. The Regional Knowledge Centre’s participation in this event was supported by the ASEAN-German cooperation project implemented by GIZ: ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs’ (3RproMar) Regional Knowledge Hub for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN.
Read more: 3RproMar Regional Knowledge Hub for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN
Research Associate
