Phnom Penh Joint Statement on Prevention of Plastic Pollution in the Greater Mekong Subregion

In a milestone moment for GMS-wide environmental collaboration, the representatives of the GMS ministries of environment pledged to work together to address the mounting issue of plastic waste pollution in the subregion. The endorsed Phnom Penh Joint Statement on Prevention of Plastic Pollution in the Greater Mekong Subregion represents the commitment of the six countries to address the ecological, economic, and societal challenges posed by plastic waste in the GMS. 

The Joint Statement details seven key areas for collective action, including:

1. Strengthening policies to promote sustainable plastic management and exchanging legislative frameworks and labelling standards,
2. Upgrading waste management infrastructure,
3. Fostering research and innovation for sustainable alternatives to plastics and improving waste management and recycling capacity,
4. Sharing experiences on monitoring plastic pollution, including microplastics,
5. Adopting community-based approaches,
6. Strengthening GMS-wide cooperation with regional and global initiatives and engaging support from local and international organizations, and
7. Enhancing public and private awareness and engagement.

During the EMM-6, the ministry representatives recognized the importance of cross-border collaboration on legislative measures and education, developing towards a circular economy, and building upon the national and regional successes, such as Cambodia’s “Today I Do Not Use Plastic Bags” campaign successfully launched last year. In the spirit of regional cooperation, the statement concludes with a call on all stakeholders in the region to join the efforts to boost regional actions in alignment with global initiatives to address plastic pollution across the GMS.

This post first appeared on the GMS Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Program Newsletter.