Asean needs to cooperate to solve marine debris, haze pollution and other transboundary environmental issues: PM Lee

Rachel Au-Yong Straits Times 22 Jun 19;

BANGKOK - The transboundary nature of many environmental challenges, from marine debris to haze pollution, "makes it impossible for any single country to solve the issue alone," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (June 22).

This is why Singapore strongly supports Asean efforts to cooperate, he told his counterparts at the start of the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok.

A meeting Singapore held among Asean ministers to discuss climate change issues last year, while it was Asean chair, prompted regional action on environmental issues, and PM Lee said he intends to keep the conversation going on this issue.

It will do so by hosting the second Asean Climate Change Partnership Conference, which is to be held in August tentatively, he announced.

Thailand, who is Asean chair this year, has chosen sustainability as its theme for the summit.

In his opening remarks, Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said he hoped the theme will help Asean "realise a people-centred community that leaves no one behind and looks to the future," as well as enhance the regional bloc's strategic value.

South-east Asia has, in recent years, been grappling with a surge of plastic and electronic waste imports, which has contributed to marine pollution and animals washing up dead on its shores, with plastic in their stomachs.

While noting that four of the world's top marine plastic polluters are in Southeast Asia, PM Lee on Saturday said Singapore welcomes the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in the region.

South-east Asia has come under fire for not doing enough to tackle its mounting trash troubles, with single-use plastic and sub-par waste management adding to the problem.

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"Marine pollution impacts not just public health and food supply, but industry and tourism," he said. "There are so many beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia and they are at risk of being polluted if we don't bring the problem under control."

He did not name the four nations but a 2017 Ocean Conservancy report found that five Asian countries - China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand - dump more than half of the 8 million tonnes of plastic waste that end up in oceans every year.

A first of its kind, the Bangkok declaration promises to "prevent and significantly reduce marine debris", according to a draft seen by the French news agency, AFP, though environmentalists say it is lacking as it neither bans the production of single-use plastic nor penalises offending companies or countries.

The Asean Summit was billed as an environmentally friendly event but AFP noted that although delegates received recycled paper notebooks and tote bags, rows of plastic water bottles were also available.

In his speech, PM Lee stressed that the larger issue is waste management, which also means reducing the amount of waste produced. This not only includes plastic waste, but also untreated liquid and semi-solid waste.

"With technology breakthrough, we can even turn waste into resources," he said.

But he also noted the limits of current plans. In Singapore, almost all non-recyclable waste is incinerated, and the bit that cannot is shipped to the island landfill Pulau Semakau.

"But landfills take up a lot of space, and Singapore cannot afford to create more and more of them," he said.

Having designated 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste, Singapore is trying to reduce its consumption of materials, and reuse and recycle them to give them a second lease of life, he added.

Singapore will also support practical efforts to share information and build capability in addressing other transboundary issues.

For example, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre hosted in Singapore is working with the 10 member states to enhance their capabilities to detect forest fires quickly. This includes sharing information on weather patterns and forecasts, and how to mitigate associated risks.

But PM Lee also pointed out that sustainability goes beyond saving the environment.

He said: "It is also about economic development and giving people a better quality of life."

Some of the Republic's long-term plans include developing a 'car-lite' Singapore, building eco-towns and developing a green economy, he said.

Acknowledging that there are no easy solutions, PM Lee said: "Our approach needs to be holistic, and are often beyond the reach of any single country. We must work together to ensure that Southeast Asia will remain a liveable and vibrant place for many years to come."

Singapore welcomes ASEAN declaration on tackling marine waste: PM Lee
Aqil Haziq Mahmud Channel NewsAsia 22 Jun 19;

BANGKOK: Singapore welcomes a declaration by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to combat marine debris, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday (Jun 22) as he urged the regional grouping to also reduce the waste it produces.

At the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok on Saturday, leaders adopted the Bangkok Declaration on combating Marine Debris, reaffirming the bloc's commitment to conserve the marine environment and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing marine debris issues.

Four of the world’s top marine plastic polluters are in Southeast Asia - Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand - trailing only China.

“Marine pollution impacts not just public health and food supply, but industry and tourism,” Mr Lee said during a plenary at the summit.

“In Singapore, marine debris washes onto our shores regularly. There are so many beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, and they are at risk of being polluted if we don’t bring the problem under control.”

Under the declaration, ASEAN nations agreed to strengthen national laws and regulations on marine debris, promote innovative solutions to improve plastics value chains and resource efficiency, as well as change behaviours to prevent and reduce marine debris.

The “broader problem”, Mr Lee said, is waste management, as he encouraged nations to reduce the waste they produce and its impact on the environment. This includes plastic, untreated liquid and semi-solid waste, he said.

“With technology breakthrough, we can even turn waste into resources,” he added.

In Singapore, almost all non-recyclable waste is incinerated before the ash and some solid waste are shipped to Pulau Semakau, an island landfill that doubles up as an eco-park and conservation area.

“But landfills take up a lot of space, and Singapore cannot afford to create more and more of them,” Mr Lee stated.

“So we have to aim even higher, to become a zero waste nation, by reducing our consumption of materials and reusing and recycling them to give them a second lease of life.”

With Singapore also designating 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste, Mr Lee called the ASEAN discussions on tackling marine waste “especially timely”.

During an ASEAN meeting in March, environment leaders discussed the draft declaration, exchanged views and practices on dealing with ocean trash and acknowledged the “urgent need” to work together in addressing these issues.

The meeting also produced the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris, which covers four priority areas: Policy support and planning; research, innovation and capacity building; public awareness, education and outreach; and private sector engagement.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HAZE

Beyond marine debris and waste management, Mr Lee noted that many ASEAN nations including Singapore face environmental challenges like climate change and haze pollution, especially in major coastal cities.

“The transboundary nature of many of these environmental challenges makes it impossible for any single country to solve the issue alone,” Mr Lee said. “This is why Singapore strongly supports efforts to cooperate among ASEAN.”

READ: Southeast Asia should ban foreign trash imports: Environmentalists
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To this end, Mr Lee said Singapore will host the second ASEAN Climate Change Partnership Conference tentatively in August, following the first edition last year which “prompted regional action” on environmental issues.

Nevertheless, Mr Lee said there are “no easy solutions” to the challenge of sustainable development.

“Our approach needs to be holistic, and are often beyond the reach of any single country,” he added. “We have to work together to ensure that Southeast Asia will remain a liveable and vibrant place for many years to come.”

Source: CNA/hz(gs)

Asean adopts pact to cut marine waste
PM Lee notes the need for countries to work together on cross-border environment issues
Rachel Au-Yong Straits Times 23 Jun 19;

Asean has committed itself to reduce marine waste at both the nation and regional level, a move welcomed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as he highlighted the need for the countries to work together to combat the scourge.

The transboundary nature of environmental challenges, from marine debris to haze pollution, "makes it impossible for any single country to solve the issue alone", he told his counterparts at the start of the 34th Asean Summit last night in Bangkok. "This is why Singapore strongly supports efforts to cooperate at the Asean level."

"Marine pollution impacts not just public health and food supply, but also industry and tourism," he added, noting that four of the world's top marine plastic polluters are in South-east Asia. "In Singapore, marine debris washes onto our shores regularly. There are so many beautiful beaches in South-east Asia and they are at risk of being polluted if we don't bring the problem under control."

The first of its kind, the Bangkok Declaration that was adopted yesterday stressed Asean's concern over the rising level of marine debris, in particular marine plastic litter, on marine life, fishing, fisheries, and tourism. It said there is also an urgent need to understand the impact of microplastics on people.

Among the ways Asean aims to tackle the problem is to adopt a more holistic land-to-sea approach, strengthen research capabilities, enhance regional and international cooperation, and increase public awareness.

Thailand, which is Asean chair this year, chose sustainability as its theme for this summit, with delegates getting recycled paper notebooks and tote bags.

ASEAN LEADERS COMMITTED TO:
• Strengthening national laws and enhancing cooperation through information sharing

• Promoting coordination between Asean sectoral bodies to address the negative effects as well as sources of pollution

• Promoting private sector engagement in preventing marine debris, including through incentives

• Strengthening research capabilities to combat marine debris

• Increasing public education on preventing and reducing marine waste

In his opening remarks, Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha said he hoped the theme will help Asean "realise a people-centred community that leaves no one behind and looks to the future", as well as enhance the regional bloc's strategic value.

A 2017 Ocean Conservancy report found that five Asian countries - China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand - dump more than half of the eight million tonnes of plastic waste that end up in the oceans every year.

Some activists believe the new declaration does not go far enough and lacks concrete plans to cut the use of single-use plastics such as straws, or fine the worst-offending companies.

"If we are not reducing single-use plastic at the production process, this 'Bangkok Declaration'... will not succeed," Mr Tara Buakamsri of Greenpeace in Thailand told Agence France-Presse.

In his speech, PM Lee stressed that the larger issue is waste management, and the need to reduce the amount of waste produced. This not only includes plastic waste, but also untreated liquid and semi-solid waste.

In Singapore, almost all non-recyclable waste is incinerated and the ashes shipped to the island landfill Pulau Semakau. "But landfills take up a lot of space, and Singapore cannot afford to create more and more of them," he said.

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"So we have to aim even higher, to become a 'zero waste' nation, by reducing our consumption of materials and reusing and recycling them to give them a second lease of life."

PM Lee also pointed out that sustainability goes beyond saving the environment. "It is also about economic development and giving people a better quality of life."

PM Lee said Singapore will support practical efforts to tackle other transboundary issues. For example, the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre in Singapore is working with the nine other member states to enhance their capabilities to detect forest fires quickly.

He also announced that Singapore will host the second Asean Climate Change Partnership Conference, to be held tentatively in August, to carry on the conversation on how to deal with environmental issues.

Acknowledging that there are no easy solutions, PM Lee said: "Our approach needs to be holistic, and are often beyond the reach of any single country. We must work together to ensure that South-east Asia will remain a liveable and vibrant place for many years to come."

Earlier in the day, PM Lee met Singapore representatives of various Asean groups. He also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, before taking part in the gala dinner.

Leaders also signed a vision statement on Asean cooperation, as well as an agreement on how to boost culture in the region.

Asean still a long way from tackling problem of plastic waste in oceans, but good start made: PM Lee
Rachel Au-Yong Straits Times 23 Jun 19;

BANGKOK - Asean has “become seized” with the issue of plastic waste pollution in the oceans, and it is good that the regional bloc has taken a stand on this, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (June 23).

He was referring to a first-of-its-kind agreement aimed at tackling marine debris that the 10 member nations adopted on Saturday.

Among other things, Asean nations have committed to adopting a more holistic land-to-sea approach, strengthening research capabilities, enhancing regional and international cooperation, and increasing public awareness.

But PM Lee on Sunday noted that it is still a long way to solving the problem because four of the biggest sources of plastic waste in oceans are in South-east Asia.

A 2017 Ocean Conservancy report found that five Asian countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand – dump more than half of the eight million tonnes of plastic waste that end up in the oceans every year.

Asean leaders came together at the 34th Asean Summit in Bangkok over the weekend, and environmental issues were at the top of the agenda. Thailand, who is Asean chair and played host, had chosen sustainability as its theme for the event.

In his interview with Singapore media, PM Lee said transboundary haze continues to be on the agenda.

But leaders were also increasingly concerned with waste exports, he said, citing recent reports in which the Philippines found that containers meant to be filled with recyclables turned out to be full of waste garbage instead.

Manila managed to send the trash back to Ottawa, Canada, but PM Lee noted that the issue of waste exports is a problem for many countries, “both practically handling this stuff, and certainly politically”.

“To be seen as a place where rich countries dump their garbage I think it’s not politically wearable. And so we are talking about it, trying to concert some kind of a common approach to it,” he said.

In Singapore, waste is not exported but incinerated, and the little that cannot be burned is put in the landfill island, Pulau Semakau.

“But even Pulau Semakau is finite,” PM Lee said. “The more we can recycle the better, so that’s the message which the young people have understood, and it’s good that they are focused on it.”