Environmental hazard: Plastic waste washed ashore by typhoons clogging up a bayside slum area in Navotas, Philippines. — AP
WHEN the COP16 United Nations conference on biodiversity in Colombia (COP16 CBD) concluded, Asean countries demonstrated varied approaches to the main negotiation agenda items, including biodiversity funding and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
The Philippines stood out as a champion, advocating for indigenous and local community rights in marine and coastal conservation while emphasising the integration of climate and biodiversity goals. Malaysia called for stronger regional collaboration on biodiversity finance, with support from Indonesia.
Despite these efforts, Asean’s overall presence in the negotiations has been less prominent compared to other regions, though there remains significant potential for leadership, as demonstrated by the Philippines’ proactive stance.
Right now, the world is focused on another critical multilateral environmental agreement, the Global Plastic Treaty.
At the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) in Busan, South Korea, which ends today, Asean’s participation is pivotal.
Plastic pollution poses multifaceted threats to human health, the environment and the economy.
From production to disposal, plastic is one of the planet’s most carbon-intensive industries, with its carbon footprint doubling in less than 30 years to account for nearly 5% of total annual greenhouse gas emissions, significantly impacting the South-East Asian region.
To avoid the severe impacts of plastic pollution on health and the environment, a fundamental shift in how plastics are produced, used and managed is urgently needed. Yet, even as the world grapples with the plastics crisis, production continues to rise.
The economic impact is substantial, with marine plastic pollution alone causing gross domestic product reductions globally, estimated at up to US$7bil (RM31.1bil) annually.
Such pollution jeopardises the vast economic potential of our oceans, projected to reach a GDP of US$3 trillion by 2030, comprising about 5% of the global GDP.
Particularly in the South-East Asian region, where the blue sector dominates, contributing significantly to aquaculture, fisheries and global trade, the ocean’s economic importance cannot be overstated. However, the region also faces grave economic losses because of plastic pollution, estimated at US$19bil across 87 coastal countries.
This economic threat undermines the aspirations of initiatives like the Asean Vision 2045, which seeks innovative green economy, climate action, sustainable urbanisation and nature-based solutions.
Since 2021, Asean’s Marine Regional Action Plan has aimed to combat marine debris by phasing out single-use plastics, generating momentum that should now be amplified globally to reduce plastic pollution across the region through the Global Plastic Treaty.
For Asean, active participation in the negotiations is vital, not only for the region’s environmental and economic resilience but also for setting a global precedent for decisive action against plastic pollution.
Notably, no Asean country has championed embedding the “polluters pay principle” into financial mechanisms, despite supporting extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems. While EPR holds producers accountable for waste, it must also drive systemic change, including a shift toward reuse models.
Asean has a storied track record of strong environmental diplomacy.
Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Timor-Leste have joined the High Ambition Coalition under the Convention on Biological Diversity, advocating ambitious targets to achieve the 2030 biodiversity goals.
Vietnam has taken bold steps by proposing that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirm countries’ obligations to combat climate change, highlighting that nations must prevent harm to the global climate system and cooperate in good faith to address climate challenges.
Similarly, Indonesia has played a significant role in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) negotiations, contributing to the protection of the marine environment and pollution prevention, efforts that continue to this day.
These examples demonstrate Asean’s potential to influence global frameworks effectively, including the Global Plastic Treaty.
Scientific data and modelling from institutions such as the OECD emphasise the urgent need to eliminate plastic pollution to ensure a liveable planet.
The scientific consensus is clear: aligning the treaty with the 1.5°Celsius target requires not just demand-side measures but also significant restrictions on supply. This aligns with lessons from COP 16 CBD, where Asean countries like the Philippines played pivotal roles, advocating for just finance mechanisms, indigenous and local community rights and climate-biodiversity alignment programmes.
Malaysia and Indonesia also emphasised financial commitments to protect biodiversity, demonstrating the potential for strong regional leadership.
These successes should be galvanise Asean leaders to prioritise public interest during INC5.
The six-day negotiations in Busan present a critical opportunity for Asean to rise as a global leader, championing public health and environmental sustainability.
Addressing the plastics crisis requires reducing production, halting biodiversity loss and limiting global warming to 1.5°.
Any Asean government endorsing a treaty without robust provisions on primary plastic polymers, chemicals of concern and problematic plastics undermines the treaty’s objectives.
To be remembered as trailblazers of sustainable economies, Asean leaders must act decisively, prioritising public and environmental health over fossil fuel industry interests. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
Rayhan Dudayev is the Senior Regional Campaign Strategist (Legal and Political) of Greenpeace South-East Asia.
