project
Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific
Background
Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges. Over 430 million tons of plastic are produced annually, and approximately 19-23 million metric tons of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas. In Asia, plastic pollution in rivers has been highlighted in studies to account for an estimated 86% of the global input of plastics into oceans. Two major transboundary river basins in Asia, the Ganges, and the Mekong are among the 10 most plastic-polluted rivers in the world. While the Asian region is considered a significant source of plastic pollution, the Pacific region, despite contributing less than 1.3 percent of global mismanaged plastics, is disproportionately affected by the plastic pollution catastrophe due to geographic isolation, limited waste management infrastructure, and reliance on tourism. To address this challenge, the project titled “Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific” was implemented by UNEP with funding from the Government of Japan from 2023 to March 2025, expanding their target area to the Pacific region. Building on the achievements of CounterMEASURE I since 2019and II, this project aimed to further enhance tools and protocols for assessment and monitoring capabilities and to strengthen national and local waste management systems for plastic pollution management in Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Purpose
To enhance tools and protocols for assessment and monitoring capabilities, and to strengthen national and local plastic pollution management in the Mekong River Basin and in the Pacific Islands.
Expected Outcomes
- Output 1: Assessments and monitoring of plastic pollution, including hotspots and leakages in rivers in Asia implemented and enhanced
- Output 2: The capacity of regional, national, and local stakeholders to enhance the systematic approach to plastic pollution management is strengthened
- Output 3: South-south cooperation and cross-region learning to leapfrog the plastic pollution management capacity across the countries and regions enhanced
Key Highlights
- Through the various workshops conducted under the project, training was delivered to more than 1,200 participants, including 445 online attendees. These workshops engaged not only government officials but also key stakeholders from the private sector, academia, and civil society, ensuring inclusive and cross-sectoral engagement in plastic pollution management. It also facilitated information-sharing and dialogue opportunities among these diverse stakeholders, not only for capacity building of monitoring and assessment but also for promoting a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach to addressing plastic pollution.
- Each workshop and training session was designed to address critical themes related to plastic pollution, enabling participants to develop tailored solutions for their respective national and local challenges. Some key themes covered included the cost of inaction on plastic pollution, mitigating plastic pollution from runoff, and the importance of regional monitoring. These themed workshops provided participants with a structured learning experience, equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to develop customized strategies for effective plastic pollution management.
- For Pacific Island countries, the project provided valuable learning opportunities, including Japan’s experience in plastic pollution management, its historical policy developments, and comprehensive upstream and downstream approaches. This aspect of the training was highly valued by participants, who recognized the relevance of Japan’s strategies in informing their own national policies. Furthermore, a workshop held in Fiji specifically addressed plastic pollution challenges unique to Pacific Island countries, providing a platform for discussing context-specific policy development and implementation. This helped facilitate the generation of concrete policy ideas tailored to the needs of individual Pacific nations.
- In addition, the project facilitated the development of bankable project proposals aimed at addressing plastic pollution in participating counties while securing long-term financial support for these initiatives. Cambodia and Viet Nam developed tailored proposals addressing specific needs, such as “The Establishment of Community-Based Plastic Waste Management in Tonle Sap Lake,” “Fostering Entrepreneurship in Circular Economy Potential Growth of the Recycling Sector” (Cambodia), and "Strengthening institutional capacity in the sound management of plastic waste in Viet Nam." These proposals were developed in close collaboration with key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international commitments.
- The project contributed significantly to enhancing regional and national efforts to combat plastic pollution in Asia and the Pacific through the above achievements and built momentum for further efforts, paving the way for more robust policies, sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration, and enhanced regional cooperation, enabling the region to implement further effective solutions to mitigate plastic pollution.
