AIT RRC.AP participates in ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution 2024
The ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution 2024 took place on October 28-29, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Vientiane, Laos. This pivotal event brought together environmental experts, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme "Action, Innovation, and Partnership to Phase Out Plastic Pollution." The conference aimed to encourage collaborative efforts to address the plastic pollution crisis, a significant challenge in the ASEAN region.
One of the standout sessions was "Session 5: Behavioral Change to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in ASEAN," held on October 29. Moderated by Mr. Bishal Bhari, Programme Officer at the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), this session focused on the critical role of behavioral change in addressing single-use plastic (SUP) consumption across ASEAN communities.
Mr. Bhari set the stage with a compelling introduction, noting that 40% of all plastic produced worldwide is designated for single-use items. Looking ahead, he warned that plastic production is projected to double within the next few decades, which would require a corresponding expansion of recycling facilities if business-as-usual (BAU) consumption patterns continue. However, Mr. Bhari emphasized that relying solely on recycling may not be enough to address the growing plastic problem. Instead, he argued, changing mindsets and social norms associated with plastic use is essential, as behavior change could significantly reduce SUP consumption and offer a more sustainable solution.
The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Ms. Riska Amelia Hasan from GIZ 3RproMar, Ms. Shiyang Li from Rare’s BE.Center, Ms. Valy Phommachak from Econox Laos, and Mr. Ahmad Bahri Rambe from Indonesia’s TKN PSL. Throughout the session, Mr. Bhari led a dynamic panel discussion, posing thought-provoking questions to each speaker. Topics included the challenges of designing effective behavior change campaigns, the sustainability of interventions post-project, and the importance of blending policy support with behavioral initiatives. The panel discussion illuminated several essential aspects for successful behavior change interventions. Through these insights, attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the key elements required to design impactful, sustainable behavior change projects.
Session 5 left participants with actionable insights on fostering behavior change to reduce single-use plastics, underlining the importance of behavior change in combating plastic pollution across the region.
The ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution 2024 took place on October 28-29, 2024, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Vientiane, Laos. This pivotal event brought together environmental experts, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme "Action, Innovation, and Partnership to Phase Out Plastic Pollution." The conference aimed to encourage collaborative efforts to address the plastic pollution crisis, a significant challenge in the ASEAN region.
One of the standout sessions was "Session 5: Behavioral Change to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in ASEAN," held on October 29. Moderated by Mr. Bishal Bhari, Programme Officer at the Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (AIT RRC.AP), this session focused on the critical role of behavioral change in addressing single-use plastic (SUP) consumption across ASEAN communities.
Mr. Bhari set the stage with a compelling introduction, noting that 40% of all plastic produced worldwide is designated for single-use items. Looking ahead, he warned that plastic production is projected to double within the next few decades, which would require a corresponding expansion of recycling facilities if business-as-usual (BAU) consumption patterns continue. However, Mr. Bhari emphasized that relying solely on recycling may not be enough to address the growing plastic problem. Instead, he argued, changing mindsets and social norms associated with plastic use is essential, as behavior change could significantly reduce SUP consumption and offer a more sustainable solution.
The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Ms. Riska Amelia Hasan from GIZ 3RproMar, Ms. Shiyang Li from Rare’s BE.Center, Ms. Valy Phommachak from Econox Laos, and Mr. Ahmad Bahri Rambe from Indonesia’s TKN PSL. Throughout the session, Mr. Bhari led a dynamic panel discussion, posing thought-provoking questions to each speaker. Topics included the challenges of designing effective behavior change campaigns, the sustainability of interventions post-project, and the importance of blending policy support with behavioral initiatives. The panel discussion illuminated several essential aspects for successful behavior change interventions. Through these insights, attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the key elements required to design impactful, sustainable behavior change projects.
Session 5 left participants with actionable insights on fostering behavior change to reduce single-use plastics, underlining the importance of behavior change in combating plastic pollution across the region.
The kNOwWaste Knowledge Platform was developed through a Project Cooperation Agreement funding by UNEP on 2016. The platform provides data and information on holistic waste management to stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific region. The platform was developed with the following aims: generate and consolidate data or information on holistic waste management, transform data into easily comprehensible outputs for use by key stakeholders, map out and disseminate information on international waste management projects under the GPWM and UNEP projects as well as other international partners, and provide capacity building support through dissemination of data or information support for relevant stakeholders on holistic waste and waste management system.
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