WESTPAC-ECNU International Workshop “Stem the tide of Asia’s riverine plastic emission into the ocean”

Plastic pollution has been attracting ever increasing global attention and actions. Plastic, including microplastic, is the most prevalent type of marine debris in our coasts and oceans. This transboundary environmental challenge needs to be addressed urgently through concrete actions at all levels involving international coordination and cooperation, scientific research and technology innovations, local actions, citizen and corporate commitment. Plastic and microplastic pollution have been at top agenda of a number of national and international agreements and frameworks, emphasizing the urgency to intensify efforts in researching their sources, transport and impacts. Notably, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2017 a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) to gather ocean stakeholders worldwide and catalyze ocean science solutions to sustainable development of the ocean, and the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) in 2022 unanimously approved a historic resolution to develop an internationally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

Rivers are recognized as major pathways for land-based plastic transported to the ocean. Based on previous model results, the rivers in the Asia-Pacific accounted for more than half of the global riverine plastic waste. However, arguments have been mounting about the modelling results due to the lack of reliable in-situ observations. To serve the needs of Member States in the region to better understand the status of river inputs of plastic waste into the ocean, and to generate timely data, information and knowledge needed to formulate and implement technological, behavioral, and policy solutions, the Sub-Commission together with its Member States and their institutions in the region developed and registered in 2022 a UN Ocean Decade Action- UN22. Stem the tide of Asia’s riverine plastic emission into the ocean. This Decade Action was built on the past achievements that the Sub-Commission has been making since 2017 in marine microplastic research and monitoring, capitalizing on the well-established network and enhanced national and regional capacity for plastic research and monitoring, and the ever-increasing commitment of Member State to combating marine plastic pollution in the region.