Strengthening Capacity for Marine Debris Reduction in ASEAN Region through Formulation of National Action Plans for ASEAN Member States and Integrated Land-to-Sea Policy Approach (Phase 2)

Proponent	:	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Viet Nam
Implementing Agency	:	Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan

Background

Marine debris is a transboundary threat that has been recognised as one of the critical issues by ASEAN. To tackle this growing environmental issue, ASEAN Member States have expressed their strong commitment through the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris. Building on this commitment, the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) had supported the implementation of a project titled Strengthening Capacity for Marine Debris Reduction in ASEAN region through formulation of National Action Plans for ASEAN Member States and Integrated Land to-Sea Policy Approach (Phase 1) from 2019 to 2020.

The first phase of the project revealed several issues and challenges faced by the region, including the need to speed up formulation and implementation of national action plans, lack of integrated policies for marine plastic issues, inadequate baseline data for waste management and marine debris, and weak solid waste management especially at local government level.

What is the project aiming for?

The second phase of the project is aimed at addressing the issues and challenges identified during the first phase. It will achieve, inter alia, the followings:

Development of national action plans focusing on coordination of local governments, especially in countries with less capacity;
Capacity improvement on solid waste management at national level and evidence-based policy making; and
Capacity enhancement on data-driven policy making through knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices from other regional initiatives.

We called for the development of collaborative projects to protect and conserve the environment and biodiversity, promote sustainable use of natural resources, including water resource management and sustainable development of mineral resources, and to address climate change and the issue of marine plastic debris. In this regard, we welcomed the continuous contribution of the Plus Three countries to reduce marine debris through the ASEAN Plus Three Marine Plastic Debris Cooperative Action initiative.

Chairman’s Statement of the 24th ASEAN-Japan Summit
27 October 2017
Video Conference

The project contributes to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, particularly on Action Line C.1. Conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity and natural resources and C.4. Sustainable Consumption and Production. Further, this project supports Maritime Cooperation which is one of the thematic areas outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

The project is currently underway and scheduled to be completed in October 2023.

As of 31 May 2022

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More Project Brief

JENESYS Programme

Strengthening Capacity for Marine Debris Reduction in ASEAN Region through Formulation of National Action Plans for ASEAN Member States and Integrated Land-to-Sea Policy Approach (Phase 2)

Other Project Brief

Capacity Building of ASEAN TV Broadcasters through Documentary Programme Production on Marine Plastic Waste in ASEAN

ASEAN Corner in Universities (Phase 1)

Enhancing the Readiness of Myanmar Government Local Capacity in Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Support the Repatriation Process