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Background
The world is facing a triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These challenges are reinforcing each other with increasing impacts to the environment and to human health. Many countries in Southeast Asia are facing several complex environmental challenges, including those that are regional is scope and impact and will require cross-border and regional cooperation to address them. Two of the priority transboundary environmental issues in Southeast Asia are: (1) transboundary haze and (2) plastic pollution.
Transboundary Haze in Southeast Asia
Transboundary haze is a widespread air pollution and smog that affects multiple countries and regions, including Southeast Asia. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States have taken several measures to tackle transboundary haze and promote regional cooperation to address the problem effectively. This includes the adoption of the Second Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation (Haze-Free Roadmap) (2023-2030) in August 2023 in Lao PDR. The Second Roadmap consists of nine mutually reinforcing strategies, including Strategy 3 on Sustainable Management of Agricultural Land and Forests to Prevent Large-scale Land and/or Forest fires, which will be the proposed focus of this regional workshop. The important role of regional cooperation to address air pollution has been recognized by member states at the Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in February 2024 with the adoption of a resolution on Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally.
Addressing Plastic Pollution at Source
Globally, up to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste find its way into marine ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas, every year. Southeast Asia is a critical area, with plastic waste threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in the region – mainly due to rapid urbanization, growing middle class, and inadequate waste management infrastructure. Across all levels of governance, from global, to regional, and national levels, plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue requiring collective and urgent action. The momentum to address plastic pollution has accelerated significantly at the global level, including in Southeast Asian countries. The UN Environmental Assembly approved Resolution 5/14, aiming to eliminate plastic pollution and establish a legally binding international agreement by 2024. Among ASEAN Member States, addressing plastic pollution is considered a critical issue. For example, marine plastic debris was a key agenda item at the ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting in 2021.
Objectives
This workshop aims to strengthen cooperation, share information, and co-create solutions to address the transboundary impacts of air pollution and plastic pollution. It will also support the implementation of the Second Roadmap on ASEAN Cooperation towards Transboundary Haze Pollution Control with Means of Implementation (Haze-Free Roadmap) (2023-2030) and promote the implementation of monitoring and evaluation of plastic pollution in ASEAN member states.
Specific objectives include:
Transboundary Haze in Southeast Asia
- Facilitate exchange of good practices and successful case studies to address transboundary haze pollution with focus on sustainable management of agricultural residues through governance, legislation, and finance.
- Showcase innovative tools for reducing air pollution, including new business models and economic instruments, digital tools for monitoring and response, agricultural mechanization, community engagement and behavioral change, among others.
- Identify opportunities for coordinated regional action to address transboundary haze pollution with focus on sustainable management of agricultural residues
Addressing Plastic Pollution at Source
- Discuss the existing solutions, challenges and future opportunities to accelerate towards a circular economy for plastics
- Promote multi-stakeholder and regional collaboration as a powerful tool to tackle plastic pollution by starting with building regional knowledge capacity for monitoring, assessing and reducing plastic pollution.
- Share best practices, technological advancements, and training programs to empower countries to improve their monitoring, assessment, and reporting systems.
