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Seminar & Events

International Symposium

Marine Plastic Debris and its Countermeasures in Asia: Impact on Ecosystems and International Cooperation

* This seminar will be held in hybrid style (in-person and online).

The registration is closed.

Today the problem of marine plastic debris is a serious global environmental concern. While plastic products have made human modern life more convenient, the plastic debris that flows into rivers and oceans have a negative impact on sea and marine life, destroying ecosystems. Conservation and protection of the oceans, sea and marine resources is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. In early 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly resolved to initiate intergovernmental negotiations to conclude an international treaty to combat plastic pollution. The negotiation was started officially in November 2022.

This symposium will focus on developing countries in Asia, which are regarded as the main sources of marine plastic debris, and discuss the current status of plastic pollution and various efforts to combat it. We will also evaluate the international efforts to increase the effectiveness of countermeasures.

We look forward to your participation.

Date & Time

Monday, 6 February 2023, 13:30-16:00（Japan Standard Time）（Door opens at 13:00）

Venue

（In-person）
World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center(Fukoku Seimei Building 14th Floor, Uchisaiwaicho 2-2-2, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Nearest subway stations: Toei Mita Line, Uchisaiwaicho Station; Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Hibiya Line, and Marunouchi Line, Kasumigaseki Station
* Kindly note that in the event that the number of Covid-19 infection cases goes up dramatically, this event may be held online only.

（Online）
Zoom Webinar
* Please make sure that the latest zoom app is installed on your PC or mobile device, if you participate online.

Program

13:30～13:40 Opening Remarks
  • Yasuaki YONEYAMA, Special Representative, Japan, The World Bank
  • Shu NOMURA, Managing Editor, The Asahi Shimbun Company
  • Kyoji FUKAO, President, IDE-JETRO
13:40～14:00 Keynote Speech I
“Marine Plastic Debris and its Countermeasures in Asia”
  • Michikazu KOJIMA, Chief Senior Researcher, Inter-disciplinary Studies Center/ Director-General, ERIA Support Office, IDE-JETRO
14:00～14:15 Keynote Speech II
“World Bank Group Experiences in Abating Marine Plastic Pollution in East Asia and the Pacific”
  • Benoît BOSQUET, Regional Director for Sustainable Development for East Asia and Pacific, The World Bank
14:15～14:25 Break
14:25～15:55

Panel Discussion and Q&A

Moderator: Michikazu KOJIMA

<Panelists>

  • Benoît BOSQUET
  • “The Threat of Plastic to the Future Sustainability of the Food System in Southeast Asia, the World's Largest Archipelagic Region”
    Muhammad Reza CORDOVA, Senior Researcher, Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency
  • “The Challenges of Eliminating the Leakage of Waste into the Natural World”
    Fujio KOJIMA, CEO, Pirika, Inc./Pirika Association
  • “Waste Watch”
    Anna OPOSA, Executive Director, Save Philippine Seas
  • “Marine Plastic Pollution: Current State and Countermeasures”
    Michihiro OI, Director, Water Environment Division, Environmental Management Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan
15:55～16:00 Closing Remarks

Languages

Simultaneous interpretation in Japanese and English will be available.

Capacity

（In-person）50 persons
* Kindly note that we limit the number of in-person participants in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

（Online）1,000 persons

Organizers

Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), The World Bank, The Asahi Shimbun Company

Contact:
Outreach Event Division, Research Operations Department, IDE-JETRO
E-mail: sympo-scE-mail