Ha Noi, 26 July 2023 – The Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a workshop on Regional Cooperation toward the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution on 26 July 2023. The workshop, attended by representatives from eleven countries belonging to the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and other non-member countries, was held as a side event of the 15th East Asia Seas Partnership Council Meeting and participated.
A panoramic view of the workshop
In the context of the on-going negotiations on a legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, the workshop aimed to share the outputs, achievements, and lessons learned from the UNDP-Norway regional project entitled “Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge” (EPPIC). Additionally, it provided updates on results from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to deepen the knowledge of PEMSEA members on the various policies and provisions being discussed under the INC and their potential impacts. The workshop also presented actions, tools, initiatives, and progress related to crucial policies and measures being discussed under the INC, to promote their uptake and upscale in national and local policy-making processes.
Southeast Asian countries have been identified as significant contributors to the leakage of land-based plastic waste into the sea, making it imperative to foster collaboration across ASEAN and the East Asia Seas region. The workshop was a platform to discuss joint efforts in combating plastic pollution and charting a path toward a sustainable future.
The workshop hosted thematic sessions with a focus on two main aspects: facilitating just transition mechanisms to enhance the recognition of informal waste workers in the treaty and mobilizing finance for developing countries to support the implementation of the treaty, with a particular emphasis on how developed countries can extend support to developing nations in treaty implementation.
Participants engaged in experiences sharing from three countries, showcasing results, achievements, and lessons learned from the EPPIC Project, as well as insights into Viet Nam, Lao PDR and the Philippines’s preparations and negotiations for the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution.
Mr. Truong Duc Tri, Deputy Director General of VASI, said, “We believe that regional cooperation is key in addressing the urgent issue of plastic pollution in our oceans. The workshop is a crucial platform for countries in the East Asia Seas region to find collective solutions to combat plastic pollution. By fostering collaboration and sharing best practices, we can work towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable marine environment to benefit present and future generations.”
Mr. Truong Duc Tri, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Seas and Islands., Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, Ramla Khalidi emphasized the pivotal role of collaboration in addressing the growing plastic pollution issue and invited all stakeholders – governmental bodies, mass organizations, NGOs, CSOs, development partners, and individuals – to join the workshop.
She also highlighted two critical aspects in the fight against plastic pollution: “Firstly, recognizing, supporting, and ultimately enhancing the contributions of informal waste workers to the waste management system, and considering how the global treaty may be able to build on these contribution. The informal sector in Southeast Asian member states plays an important role in waste management. The women and men who lead this sector are often the unsung heroes in the fight against plastic pollution. Secondly, realizing the ambitious goals of the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution will require adequate financing, especially through innovative financing mechanisms in order to ensure efforts are fully supported for transformative change on the ground.”
Ms. Ramla Khadili, Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam
UNDP has been actively working towards addressing the plastic pollution crisis through the “Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge” (EPPIC). This ASEAN-wide competition funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, invites innovators from across the region to share their groundbreaking ideas for tackling plastic pollution. The EPPIC initiative began in 2021 in Viet Nam and Thailand, followed by successful implementations in Indonesia and the Philippines in 2022. In 2023, EPPIC expanded its scope to include Lao PDR and Cambodia, highlighting the effectiveness of regional collaboration in addressing environmental challenges.
During the workshop, participants agreed on the importance of joint efforts in combating plastic pollution. As a result, a joint paper was agreed upon, outlining a collaborative strategy to address plastic pollution and contribute to the formulation of the Global Treaty on Plastic Pollution. This collaborative initiative reflects the spirit of regional cooperation and the shared determination to combat plastic pollution for the benefit of the East Asia Seas region and beyond.
The workshop assembled representatives from eleven countries belonging to PEMSEA to discuss solutions for plastic pollution.
