Background
Plastic pollution remains a pressing environmental issue with far-reaching effects. Every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into the aquatic ecosystem, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas, adding to an already worsening problem. Plastic pollution can disrupt habitats and natural processes, limiting ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate change and directly impacting millions of people’s livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being.
Combating plastic pollution necessitates a comprehensive approach that considers the entire lifecycle of plastic, from production to disposal. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through the UNEP Plastics Initiative, works with governments and stakeholders to stimulate collaboration and develop solutions through global, regional, and in-country projects.
The Pacific region confronts unique challenges in managing plastic pollution due to geographic isolation, limited waste management infrastructure, and reliance on tourism. While their contributions are very limited - less than 1.3 percent of the global mismanaged plastics, the region is the one disproportionately affected by the plastic pollution catastrophe. However, by addressing distinctive challenges and leveraging international support, the Pacific region can make tremendous progress in combating plastic pollution and protecting its pristine marine environments.
UNEP is dedicated to supporting the Pacific Island Countries in their efforts to address plastic pollution. With funding from the Government of Japan, UNEP has initiated the project “Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific” (Mekong and Pacific Project). This project aims to enhance monitoring and assessment capacities, strengthen the systematic approach to plastic pollution management, and inform policymaking in the Mekong River Basin Countries and the Pacific Island Countries.
Building on a positive momentum to mitigate plastic pollution issues across the region by collective work being undertaken under the UNEP, including a series of trainings and webinars as part of the Mekong and Pacific Project, this 3-day regional workshop on National Capacity Building for Plastic Pollution in the Pacific Island Countries is being organized in Nadi, Fiji.
Objectives
The workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to address plastic pollution in the Pacific region effectively considering the specific resource constraints of island countries to ensure more effective outcomes. By fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and developing strategies, the workshop seeks to:
- Increase awareness and understanding of plastic pollution issues in the Pacific region, empowering participants to take informed action.
- Enhance the capacity of Pacific Island countries to manage plastic pollution, enabling them to implement effective mitigation measures.
Sessions
Day 1: Awareness Raising
- Session 1: Plastic Pollution and Challenge in the Pacific
- This session will lay the groundwork for the workshop by providing an overview of plastic pollution and its management problems, as well as an analysis of its sources and pathways throughout the Pacific region.
- Session 2: Valuing Ecosystem Goods and Services in the Pacific
- This session will provide a brief introduction to the opportunity of valuation of ecosystem goods and services for policy/decision making in the Pacific and to receive feedback from participants on guidelines for ecosystem valuation being developed.
- Session 3: Monitoring and Assessment
- This session will build the foundation for monitoring and assessment protocols of plastic litter, including microplastics, in the ocean and enhance the capacity of accumulating and utilizing monitoring data.
- Session 4: Fostering Regional Cooperation
- This session will explore mechanisms and opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, resources, and best practices in addressing plastic pollution.
Day 2: Capacity Building
- Session 5: Transition to Circular Solutions
- This session will explore the principles and benefits of a circular economy, identify opportunities for transition, and discuss the way forward in implementing various practical initiatives across the plastic value chain, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.
- Session 6: Promoting Sustainable Tourism
- This session will explore ways to reduce plastic waste in the tourism sector and promote sustainable tourism practices while also identifying opportunities for sustainable practices and collaborations.
- Session 7: Changing Behaviors and Mindsets for Encouraging Sustainable Consumption
- This session will focus on equipping individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to adopt sustainable behaviors and reduce plastic consumption.
- This session will focus on raising awareness and promoting sustainable consumption habits among individuals and businesses in the Pacific region with the aim of reducing plastic waste.
Day 3
- Field Visit Koroipita Community Town
- Koroipita, situated near Lautoka, Fiji, is a pioneering model town designed to address housing and environmental challenges faced by impoverished communities. Developed under the Model Towns Charitable Trust, Koroipita serves as a sustainable living solution that emphasizes both environmental safety and community development.
