IKHAPP will work closely with the German development agency GIZ and ASEAN in a project called “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs” (3RproMar).

A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shed light on the harmful impact of marine litter and plastic pollution on the environment, wildlife, and human health. The report states that plastic makes up a staggering 85% of marine litter. It  warns of future consequences on marine life and ecosystems, with the amount of plastic pollution entering the ocean expected to nearly triple by 2040, releasing an estimated 23-37 million metric tons of plastic waste annually. To put it in perspective, this is equivalent to the weight of 10,000 to 15,000 fully loaded Boeing 747 aircrafts. 

Sharing knowledge and best practices

The ASEAN region releases significant amounts of marine plastic litter, accounting for over half of global land-based sources. To effectively address this issue, a coordinated and integrated approach involving a wide range of stakeholders and covering all aspects of the marine litter value chains is necessary.

To facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices among the ASEAN Member States (AMS), the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris was launched at the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in June 2019. This framework recognizes the importance of promoting platforms for knowledge sharing, innovative solutions, and best practices to combat marine litter. 

The German development agency GIZ GmbH (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) launched the ASEAN-GIZ project “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to Protect the Marine Environment and Coral Reefs” (3RproMar) in cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat in 2020. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and knowledge management among the relevant ASEAN working groups addressing marine litter and plastic pollution.

The project will focus on four countries, Indonesia, Philippines, Viet Nam, and Cambodia, and will involve representatives of three ASEAN working groups, namely the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment, the ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste, and the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities. The project’s objective is to reduce land-based sources of marine litter and support the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris and the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris. 

Serving the ASEAN policy community

IKHAPP will play a key role in output 1 of the project, working closely with GIZ, the ASEAN secretariat, and other partners with complementary expertise, including the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP) and the kNOwWaste Knowledge Platform. The partnership between these organizations is expected to be more successful in achieving its objectives and serving the ASEAN policy community effectively.

The proposed activities of the 3RproMar Knowledge Partnership for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN include annual regional workshops, web platforms, thematic deep dives, knowledge products and regular coordination among partnership members. IKHAPP will contribute through knowledge and experience in focus areas such as the informal sector, waste flow modelling, engagement of multiple stakeholders and scientific syntheses.

The partnership between these organizations will contribute to its objectives and serve the ASEAN policy community effectively. The proposed activities of the 3RproMar Knowledge Partnership for Marine Litter Prevention in ASEAN include annual regional workshops, web platforms, thematic deep dives, knowledge products and regular coordination among partnership members. IKHAPP will contribute through knowledge and experience in focus areas such as the informal sector, waste flow modelling, engagement of multiple stakeholders and scientific syntheses.

By Diya Chakravorty, Emmy Nøklebye and Hans Adam, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)