APCEL is joining the World Wide Fund (WWF) as one of the partners in  a consortium to develop a report called  ‘A New Treaty on Plastic Pollution – Perspectives from Asia’.

The report aims to mobilise countries in the Asia region to take a leading role globally in getting a new global treaty on plastic pollution adopted. The findings of the report will be designed to inform negotiation positions of countries in the region and contribute, with perspectives from the region, to the global discourse on curbing plastic pollution. The findings of the report will contribute as inputs into the global process on how to design an effective global treaty. Vietnam’s leadership at the global level and national best practices on reducing plastic pollution will also be used as a case study to champion regional efforts and mobilise greater support a new global treaty on plastics.

This report therefore seeks to examine, understand and synthesize how a global agreement most effectively can contribute to stop the plastic pollution crisis in the region. It will also highlight how countries and the region as a whole can benefit from adopting a binding international legal framework.

The Global Plastic Treaty Workshop (13 July)

In the first stage of the project, the project team consolidated interim findings from government authorities of the participating countries and organised a closed door workshop that aims to discuss preliminary findings with the workshop participants, gather feedback and initiate discussion amongst participating countries.  Governmental officials from the Asia-Pacific countries including Singapore, Indonesia, the Philiipines, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Bhutan, and Japan were invited.

Dr Linda Yanti Sulistiawati represented APCEL for this workshop, which was conducted in collaboration with Ecologic Institute, Thammasat University and University of Philippines.

Launch of WWF Report: A New Treaty on Plastic Pollution Perspectives from Asia (26 October 2021)

APCEL is proud to be a part of this  groundbreaking report launched on 26 October 2021 by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for a new global plastic pollution treaty.

This report is the product of dialogues with governments in the Asia-Pacific region, and research conducted by the Ecologic Institute; the University of the Philippines Law Center’s Institute of International Legal Studies; Alternative Law Groups; the National University of Singapore’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL); and Thammasat University Faculty of Law’s Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Law. APCEL was the institutional rapporteur for Indonesia and Singapore.

At the virtual launch, Dr. Heidi Stockhaus (Ecologic Institute) began by outlining the report’s objectives and methodology. Jacqueline Espenilla (University of the Philippines Law Center’s Institute of International Legal Studies) followed by introducing the national and regional solutions Asia-Pacific countries are implementing to tackle plastic pollution, to phase out single-use plastics and to extend producer responsibilities. This diversity of solutions shows that there is no regional harmonization in the fight against marine plastic pollution.

Genee Mislang (Alternative Law Groups) explained that current solutions are hindered by challenges including a lack of data at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, gaps in knowledge and monitoring efforts, and insufficient industry engagement. Asia’s rapid economic development and the rise of the middle class in recent decades has only increased single-use plastic consumption at a rate that far outpaces plastic regulation and waste management.

WWF’s report responds to these issues by proposing a new global treaty against plastic pollution. Dr. Stockhaus elaborated on how the treaty will take on a hybrid approach with both binding and non-binding elements. It will be modelled on the Paris Agreement to encourage bottom-up action and greater involvement of non-state actors. In addition to the common elements of treaties (i.e., support mechanisms, financing, monitoring and reporting, implementation and compliance), this global plastics treaty should also be tailored to the marine plastics problem. Specifically, it should embody a comprehensive “lifecycle approach” and impose obligations, such as extended producer responsibility, on relevant actors to prevent plastic pollution. It should also address microplastics.

Government representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, and Viet Nam were invited to speak. They expressed their desire and willingness to cooperate with other countries, regionally and internationally, to create effective solutions for the marine plastics problem. During the live Q&A session, the panelists answered questions from the audience on matters such as the role corporations might play in the creation and implementation of a global plastics treaty.

Dr Linda Yanti Sulistiawati (APCEL) delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing the importance of constructive dialogue and collaboration during these early stages of trying to create an effective global framework for plastics management.