Asian Pacific countries are still struggling to reduce their plastic debris in the ocean. Main sources of marine plastic debris are land-based, from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows, beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal management, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping. Ocean based plastic originates mainly from the fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture. There is an urgent need to for Asia-Pacific countries to learn from each other best practices and challenges in combating marine plastic debris in the area.

This project consists of an online workshop that is co-organised with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) National University of Singapore; Cebu University School of Law; Korean Law Research Institute (KLRI) and supported by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

The overall premise of this online workshop is to perceive forms of legal measures and governance comprising multiple stakeholders’ roles in combating marine plastic debris. Questions that will guide the workshop discussions can include:

• What forms of legal measures exist in your country or in Southeast Asia to combat marine plastic debris?
• To what extent do measures combating marine plastic debris include stakeholders?
• Do the measures combating marine plastic debris involve other regimes of debris?
• What can be done to increase international collaboration in combating marine plastic debris efforts?

The final version of the papers then will go through KJLL’s rigorous peer review process. Up to 4 of the selected articles will be published in KJLL by May 2021. All of the articles will be published in a book on Marine Plastic Debris Rule of Law in Asia, supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

APCEL was the host organiser for the virtual book launch on 20 October 2021 for Marine Plastic Prevention and the Rule of Law.  Our heartiest congratulations to the editors and contributors.

Read about the book launch here

Marine Plastic Pollution Prevention and the Rule of Law

Co-editors

Linda Yanti Sulistiawati
Senior Research Fellow, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), National University of Singapore Faculty of Law Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio
Professor, University of Cebu School of Law
Legal and Policy Director, Oceana Philippines

Chapters/Authors

Regional Solutions: Export Measures for Plastic Recyclables to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution in the Pacific
Professor Jacqueline Peel, Professor Lee Godden, Dr Alice Palmer & Ms Rebekkah Markey-Towler

Littoral Indigenous Communities & Transboundary Ocean Plastic Waste in Southeast Asia: Potential Approaches in International Human Rights Law
Jonathan Liljeblad

Navigating in a Sea of Plastics: A Critical Reflection on the Legal Responses in the Philippines to Marine Plastic Debris
Rose-Liza Eisma Osorio

Marine Plastic Pollution Regulation in Indonesia
Linda Yanti Sulistiawati

Measures to counter marine plastic debris in Taiwan: A Holistic Approach
Anton Ming-Zhi Gao

Fixing Liability for Marine Plastic Pollution: Legal and Policy Challenges in the Indian Context
Rahul Choudhary, Ritwick Dutta

Marine Plastic Governance through International Law in China: International Commitment and State Practice
Peixuan Shang

Status, Trends and Best Management Practices for Abandoned, Lost or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) in Asia and the Pacific
Roger Joseph Guzman

Private Sector Participation in Solid Waste Management Services in Vietnam
Dung Nguyen

Closing the GAP Between the National and the Global: A Regional and Market-Based Approach to End Plastic Pollution
Eric Bea

Legal Practice and Future Prospects of Marine Plastic Debris Management in China
Ruilong YIN