ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Action Agenda
on Plastic Pollution
Aug 24th, 2023
At the occasion of ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Symposium
Reo Kawamura
Director for Environmental Policy and Director for Regional
Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (RKC-MPD)
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)
reo.kawamura@eria.org
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ASEAN-Japan Action Agenda on Plastic Pollution and ERIA’s roles
Overarching Objectives and Scope

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

1) Support formulation and implementation of national action plans.
2) Promote consolidation and assessment of scientific knowledge.
3) Raise awareness: an inclusive discussion with relevantstakeholders.
4) Enhance knowledge sharing and capacity development throughthe Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA
(RKC-MPD ERIA)ASEANJAPAN2

50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship & Cooperation

Japan’s Proposed New Initiatives
Promoting measures throughout the full-life-cycle of plastics, including plastic pollution notjust in the marine environment but more widely in the whole environment.
1.Support thedevelopment of
NAP and theirimplementation

・Support for the formulation and implementationof action plans covering the full-life-cycle, which
includes waste management
・Sharing of different measures and experiences
・Osaka Blue Ocean Vision (OBOV) and G20 Reporton Actions against Marine Plastic Litter

2.Consolidate
Scientific
Knowledge

・Dissemination, utilization and databasedevelopment of the plastic monitoring guidelines
・Development of inventory estimation methodand trial calculation
・Knowledge sharing on the assessment of
ecological impacts
・Training programs to share scientific knowledge

3.Raiseawareness onplastic pollution

・Workshops and events in collaboration withdifferent stakeholders such as local
governments, civil society, and the private
sector

OBOV and G20
Report on Actions
against Marine
Plastic Litter
ERIA:
Sharing policy
measures of thecentral and local
governments, aswell as bestpractices of civilsociety andprivate sector
efforts3

(1) NAP Development and Implementation Support
Many organizations are supporting ASEAN as a region, or the AMS for their formulation andimplementation of national action plans, including waste management, and share its experience

Regional progress➢ The World Bank → ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the AMS (2021 – 2025).

Country-level progress➢ Japan-ASEAN integration fund (JAIF) and IGES → Support to ASEAN countries, including Cambodia and Myanmar todevelop NAP (Phase 1 & 2 projects).
➢ Many ASEAN+3 countries have reported their progress in the G20 report, including NAP development (see image below).

Local Government involvement➢ UNESCAP’s “Closing the Loop”→ Addresses plastic waste leakages from cities tothe marine environment.

G20 5th Report(Final version expected later this year –please submit if you haven’t done so)Role of the ERIA’s RKC-MPD➢ Supports ASEAN to make an input in the INC
process to ensure its relevance to the region.
➢ Provides support for the EPR schemes as theirplastic waste management scheme.

https://g20mpl.org/
4(2) Scientific Knowledge promotion
Many scientific finding and initiatives in the scientific field have been developed for the benefit of the ASEAN
countries.

Global findings➢ G20 Report on Actions Against Marine Litter is that many countries are struggling
to collect reliable and comparable data.

Efforts by the MOEJ
➢ The Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring
Methods were developed in 2019, and revised in 2020.
➢ Currently, a database and mapping system development is underway to organize,
store and share the collected microplastic data in line with the guidelines.
➢ To enhance efficiency and coverage, the new monitoring guidelines for remotesensing technologies has been discussed with the international experts.

Efforts by ERIA’s RKC-MPD➢ Scientific network with IGES, OECD, AIT, NIVA, JANUS, COBSEA, UNEP, TEI,INOS, etc.
→ Establishment of the Experts Working Group on MPD, plastic value chain
study and gap analysis, MPD expertise mapping and database development,
plastic leakage study, monitoring indicator development, and pilot project formangrove protection.

5(3) Awareness raising and stakeholder engagement
ERIA’s RKC-MPD➢ Various awareness raising activities, especially aiming youth(Interview articles, Podcast, joint activities).
➢ Active engagement and collaboration with regional andglobal stakeholders including the private sector, internationalorganizations, research institutes, universities etc.
➢ Further participation and involvement with international
forums are expected for 2023 and beyond.

(4) Knowledge sharing and capacity development
ERIA’s RKC-MPD➢ For the benefits of the ASEAN+3 region:
Many research projects, trainings and capacity building
programs in the field of marine plastic monitoring, mangrove
habitat conversation, plastic leakage from factory andinformal sector.

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