Promotion of Community Resilience Against Plastic Pollution and Climate Change in the Mekong River Basin

Opening Session

To reiterate overarching theme and provide context for the succeeding sessions, the workshop will commence with messages from event hosts and project partners, followed by a high-level panel discussion to promote community resilience to plastic pollution and climate change in the Mekong River Basin.

Session 1: Reaping rewards - Investing in plastic pollution prevention

The first session is a 60-minute panel discussion with speakers representing the private, public, development, and financial sectors. This session will highlight how international cooperation can drive monetary and non-monetary investments to effectively address the issue of plastic pollution in rivers.

Specifically, this session aims to:

• Provide an overview of the current investment landscape of plastic waste abatement efforts in the Mekong Region as linked to global goals;
• Identify key investment needs and opportunities related to plastic pollution for various stakeholders; and
• Discuss key strategies to leverage the current surge of investments towards countermeasures for plastic waste issues, while delivering benefits for highly vulnerable communities.

Session 2: Monitoring plastic pathways

Session 2 will showcase proven methods and technologies for monitoring riverine plastic pollution while addressing existing knowledge gaps. The session will cover the different approaches by different sectors, innovative technologies, and guidelines for monitoring plastic pollution. 

Specifically, this session aims to:

• Present an overview of monitoring and assessment of riverine plastic pollution as undertaken by various stakeholders;
• Identify the knowledge gaps in monitoring and evaluating plastic pollution especially in the Mekong River; and
• Explore ways to scale up the implementation of existing technologies and the associated business opportunities for stakeholders in the Mekong region.

Session 3: Partnerships to end plastic pollution

This session will underscore the role of collaborative action towards plastic-free rivers. The session will be delivered through presentations of successful partnerships and a panel discussion with insights from the private, public, and development sectors to emphasize the critical role of multi-stakeholder collaboration and ways to create lasting impact.

Specifically, this session aims to:

• Demonstrate the critical role of multi-stakeholder alliances towards plastic-free rivers;
• Identify and understand the challenges and opportunities of multi-stakeholder collaboration from different stakeholders' experience and standpoint; and
• Discuss the challenges and opportunities to make collaboration more inclusive, particularly including the local community, as well as how to overcome potential hindrances.

Session 4: Community resilience in the Mekong River Basin

Session 4 will deep-dive into the results of the Mekong Project by featuring insights from the experience of Thailand and Vietnam through presentations by project partners. Through a commentary presentation and a panel discussion, the results of the project will be linked to other efforts on monitoring and assessing plastic pollution and increasing climate resilience by tackling plastic pollution in rivers. 

Specifically, this session aims to:

• Discuss shared challenges faced by riverine communities and solutions to overcome them;
• Facilitate exchange of ideas and insights concerning the impact of climate change and plastic pollution to riverine communities with experts, considering the outputs from the Mekong River Project; and
• Seek recommendations on further strengthening project outputs and community successes including how can we build the local resilience for plastic pollution and climate change with meeting of capacity building needs to increase the resilience for the riverine communities.

Session 5: Science-based actions to tackle plastic waste

This session offers a closer look at available technologies to reduce the detrimental impacts of plastic pollution across the plastics value chain – from upstream to downstream. In this session, we seek to identify the keys to success and address potential drawbacks of existing technologies, as well as opportunities to replicate in other communities, cities, nations, or regions.   

Specifically, this session aims to:

• Identify latest trends and technologies to prevent and reduce plastic pollution throughout the plastic value chain;
• Recognize best practices and facilitate exchange of insights and experiences between stakeholders; and
• Explore opportunities by first addressing the challenges to effectively replicate successful outcomes in other areas, focusing on community engagement.

Session 6: Voices and actions from the ground

The session provides a space for actors working on the ground to combat plastic pollution to present local actions, including plastic waste management policies by cities through the case of Bangkok and Tokyo. Also, key stakeholder groups will be invited to convey compelling messages and commitments to plastic-free rivers. 

Specifically, this session aims to:

1. Hear from stakeholders regarding their messages and commitments to achieving plastic-free rivers
2. Gain insights into the experiences of major Asian cities with plastic recycling mitigation activities; and
3. Identify what is necessary to facilitate more inclusive and effective initiatives that reflect the various stakeholders' perspectives.

Concluding Session

The workshop will conclude with a final panel discussion aimed at taking stock of the recent discussions, new perspectives, and next steps toward plastic waste management and alleviation. It will also aim at linking ongoing global processes on plastic pollution with regional and local actions.

Government, civil society, research, academia, and multilateral and business sector representatives gathered on 7-9 March 2023 to take stock of the latest developments and scaling plans to end plastic pollution in the Mekong River Basin.

Plastic pollution threatens the Mekong River Basin, its rich biodiversity, and the millions of people whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. The impacts of climate change-induced natural hazards such as storms can be worsened by macro-plastic that clogs sewage systems, causing harmful floods. The scale of the harmful impacts of microplastics on living organisms is not yet fully known.

Without coordinated action, riverine communities are exposed to socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities.

The call to stop plastic pollution was echoed in high-level panel discussions and across six (6) thematic sessions comprising discussions on investments and international cooperation, the latest tools and technologies, as well as wider awareness and capacity-building to promote best practices.

Some of the key messages that emerged:

An integrated approach to leverage resources and investments

Solutions for plastic-free rivers exist; however, there is a need for a coordinated approach to effectively integrate data, policy, and investments, consequently strengthening linkages between people, tools, and organizations. Investments must support policies based on specific country context and must be re-directed towards other stages of the plastic life cycle to prevent pollution at source. Governance at all levels – from local and regional to global, including sectoral leadership will be crucial to raising awareness, promoting stakeholder engagement, and leveraging resources.

Stakeholder participation and collaboration across all levels

Against the backdrop of global ambition and ongoing processes, actions are taking place at the community, industry, and country levels. Mechanisms and platforms for stakeholder involvement will strengthen the knowledge base, promote best practices and enhance cooperation. At the global level, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which was established to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, offers a venue for stakeholder participation and contributions on the road to having a global treaty to stop plastic pollution.

Data collection and harmonization guidelines are needed to address the knowledge gap

Through the projects on plastic-free rivers in Asia, technologies have been developed and categorized to address different stages from prevention to collection, conversion, recycling, disposal, and plastic leakage removal. To address the knowledge gap, monitoring tools, technologies, and guidelines provide reliable data to inform policies and initiatives. Locally and regionally developed and piloted tools can be adapted in other regions. In addition, ordinary citizens taking part in citizen science is a significant initiative not only in improving local knowledge but more importantly in raising community awareness and involvement.

Preventing plastic emissions into the environment is a complex challenge requiring a multi-faceted approach. Solutions are available and actions are happening. However, scaling will require prioritizing investments and actions appropriately with a more integrated approach and stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration.

VIDEO RECORDINGS 

Day 1

• UNEP Workshop-Day 1-Opening Session
• UNEP Workshop-Day 1-High Level Panel Discussion
• UNEP Workshop-Day 1-Session 1

Day 2

• UNEP Workshop Day 2 Session 2
• UNEP Workshop Day 2 Session 3
• UNEP Workshop-Day 2-Session 4
• UNEP Workshop-Day 3-Session 5
• UNEP Workshop-Day 3-Session 5-2

Day 3

• UNEP Workshop-Day 3-Session 6
• UNEP Workshop-Day 3-Concluding Session

PRESENTATIONS

Session 2

• How can we reduce marine plastic pollution from the river? -A case study in the Hozu-river in Kyoto, Japan, Dr. Sadao Harada, Associate Professor, Osaka University of Commerce, Japan

• Overview of the major monitoring and scientific research initiatives on marine plastics and pollution: the experience of the G20 countries and its policy implications, Dr. Yasuhiko Hotta, Programme Director/ Principal Policy Analyst, SCP, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

• Japan’s policies and measures on plastic pollution, Dr. Noriko Tamiya-Hase, Deputy Director, Office of Policies against Marine Plastics Pollution, Water Environment Division, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Session 3

• Good Practices of Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration against Plastic Pollution, Mr. Michikazu Kojima, Senior Advisor to The President on Environmental Issues, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

• Options and Opportunities for Riverine Plastic Waste Collection Technologies in Southeast Asia, Mr. Klaus Sattler, Environmental Specialist, World Bank

Session 4

• The experience of the Global Environment Centre Foundation in mitigating plastic pollution, Ms. Akiko Doi, Senior Programme Officer, Global Environment Centre Foundation

• Strengthening Community Resilience for Plastic Pollution and Climate Change in Mekong region: results from pilot study in Can Tho province, Viet Nam, Dr. Kim Thi Thuy Ngoc, Head, Division of Science and International Cooperation, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment

• Assessment of Community Resilience and Capacity Building against Plastic Pollution and Climate Change, Dr. Atitaya Panuvatvanich, Senior Researcher, Asian Institute of Technology

Session 5

• Creating inclusive circular plastics value chains- global coordination and local solutions, Dr. Patrick Schroeder, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

• Plastics and circularity: A life cycle perspective, Dr. Shabbir Gheewala, Professor, Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi

• Continuous effort for creating a better world-Towards carbon neutral society, Mr. Masahito Yano, Senior Project Manager, Mitsui Chemicals

• Technology development to Science-Based Actions to Tackle Plastic Pollution, Professor Thares Srisatit, The President, Environmental Engineering Association of Thailand

• Technology & Innovative Solutions Inventory Report for Preventing and Managing Plastic Pollution, Dr. Chettiyappan Visvanathan, Emeritus Professor, Asian Institute of Technology

Session 6

The Review of Remote Sensing Technology for Plastic Waste Monitoring, Mr. Yootthapoom Potiracha, Student, Kyoto University